Falcons Fall In Saturday Pitcher's Duel

Saturday, April 27

Kent, OH

1:00 pm

Bowling Green State University

14-22, 8-9

Kent State University

22-20, 11-6

Bowling Green

Kent State

April 27, 2013 | Baseball

Box Score

By: by Scott Swegan, BGSU Athletic Communications

Box Score

KENT, Ohio—Pitching was the name of the game on Saturday afternoon, as the two starting pitchers combined for 17 strikeouts in Bowling Green's 3-1 loss to Kent State. For the second straight week, Mike Frank struck out eight, tying his career high. With the loss, the Falcons fall to 14-22 overall, and 8-9 in the Mid-American Conference. BGSU will take on Kent State (22-20, 11-6 MAC) in the series finale tomorrow at 1 p.m.

For the second straight day, the Golden Flashes jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Kent State All-America first baseman George Roberts delivered with a one-out RBI single in the frame. Roberts was a tough out for the Falcons all afternoon, going 2-for-2 with a walk and two RBI.

In the top of the second, one of the key plays in the game occurred. With one out and T.J. Losby (2-for-4) on third, Jesse Rait would hit a fly ball to medium right field. Losby would tag up on the play, but the throw from KSU right fielder, T.J. Sutton, would be right on the mark to gun down Losby at the plate.

Then, in the bottom of the third, it looked like the Golden Flashes would be able to extend the lead, as they put two runners on with just one out in the inning. With Jason Bagoly up, Frank would check the runner at second with a light toss to the second baseman Brandon Howard. Before throwing another pitch, Frank would execute a timing pickoff play to first base to retire the runner. On that play, Jeremy Shay was playing behind the runner, but would make the grab on the base and apply the tag for the out at first. The very next pitch would be popped up to short for the third out.

In the top of the fifth, Rait would lead off with a single. Following Matt Pitzulo's ground out to move Rait to second, and an out, the Flashes would intentionally walk Brian Bien to open up the possibility for the force out. However, the Falcons would try a double steal, and Rait would be thrown out at third base to end the inning.

Making the first or third out of an inning at third base often comes back to haunt teams, and Kent State would make the Falcons pay in the bottom of the fifth inning. Frank would retire the first two batters of the fifth, but KSU shortstop Sawyer Polen would start a rally with a double. Following a walk, Roberts would deliver again with a two-out, RBI single to score Polen.

In the seventh, Kent State would extend their lead to 3-0. Following an error by the Falcons to begin the inning, Roberts would come up with two outs and the runner on second. With the open base, the Falcons would elect to intentionally walk Roberts. Ben Singer would hand the ball to Nick Bruns with two on and two outs in the inning. Bagoly, the designated hitter, would knock a single through the left side, scoring the Flashes' third run.

The Falcons would get on the scoreboard in the top of the eighth, started by Pitzulo's single to lead off the inning. With one out, Bien would lay down a bunt single towards the third base line. Following a wild pitch, Howard would ground out to second base for the RBI. With a runner on third and Patrick Lancaster coming to the plate, KSU would turn to their lefty closer, Brian Clark. Clark would get a ground out from Lancaster to end the eighth and keep the score at 3-1.

Clark would retire Bowling Green in order in the top of the ninth, securing his fifth save of the season. The Falcons have now lost three straight Mid-American Conference games, on the heels of a five-game MAC winning streak prior to last Sunday's loss to Akron.