Comeback Falls Short On Sunday At Kent State

Sunday, April 28

Kent, OH

1:00 pm

Bowling Green State University

14-23, 8-10

Kent State University

23-20, 12-6

Bowling Green

Kent State

April 28, 2013 | Baseball

Box Score

By: by Scott Swegan, BGSU Athletic Communications

Box Score

KENT, Ohio—The Bowling Green State University baseball team could not complete a ninth-inning comeback on Sunday afternoon, losing by a final of 10-7. Kent State was able to complete the three-game, weekend sweep of the Falcons at rainy Schoonover Stadium. With the loss, the Falcons drop to 14-23 (8-10 MAC) on the season.

The Falcons would hit three home runs on the day, the program's first three home run game since a 24-10 win over Malone on March 14, 2012. Junior T.J. Losby would account for two of them, recording the first multi-homer game of his career. The other home run came off the bat of junior outfielder Jake Thomas, his first career deep ball.

Losby's first home run of the day came in the top of the first, a solo shot to give the Falcons an early lead. In fact, the lead for the Falcons was their first of the weekend series. The Golden Flashes would respond with two runs in the bottom of the first inning to retake the lead, helped by two walks. After the first two runners reached base, starter Trevor Blaylock would get what looked like a routine double-play ball. However, the Falcons would only get the out at second after bobbling the ground ball. Following a walk to the cleanup hitter, George Roberts, the Flashes would capitalize with two runs, including another ground ball that the Falcons could not turn.

The Orange and Brown would retake the lead in the top of the second inning, on the power of a Thomas RBI single to right field. The Thomas single would score Brandon Howard from third to tie the game. But, the ball would kick by the Kent State outfielder, allowing Nick Glanzman to score all the way from first base on the play. The Falcons led 3-2 after just the top of the second.

KSU would take the lead back from the Falcons in the bottom of the second, scoring two more runs, both charged to Blaylock. Head coach Danny Schmitz would turn to the bullpen and Jason Link with one out in the bottom of the second frame. Link would be charged with the task of getting out of the bases-loaded jam. The Golden Flashes would tie it with a single to right field, and then take the lead on a sacrifice fly to Jesse Rait in right. The deep fly ball would allow Sawyer Polen to tag up and score from third, but Rait would gun down Roberts over sliding second base to end the inning.

After a scoreless third inning for both teams, Kent State would get back in the run column with two more runs in the fourth. Ninth batter Justin Wagler would begin the inning with a walk, and the Falcons would follow it up with an error to leadoff hitter, Derek Toadvine, allowing him to reach. One of the two runs in the inning was unearned.

Thomas would add his solo home run in the top of the fifth off KSU starter Casey Wilson. Thomas, who went 2-for-5 on the day, would use a nice approach to drive the ball the other way, over the left field fence.

In the bottom of the fifth, Kent State would score two more runs—both of them coming on a bizarre sequence of events. Kent State left fielder Alex Miklos would hit an RBI double to left-center field, scoring the first run of the play. As Miklos rounded second, Brian Bien took the throw from Patrick Lancaster in left, firing it to third on the relay. The Falcons would catch Miklos between the bases in a rundown. The KSU runner would proceed to retreat towards second, where Losby took a throw from the third baseman Glanzman. As Miklos turned back towards third, he would realize that nobody would be able to catch him. As he dashed towards third, catcher Jeremy Shay sprinted toward third base to try to beat Miklos. The runner would dive in ahead of a tag from Losby at third. Miklos would then use his alertness, realizing that home plate was vacated. He would get up and sprint towards home, the Falcons being unable to do anything about it. The play was ruled an RBI double, but Miklos would also advance two bases on the bizarre play that gave Kent State an 8-4 lead at the time.

KSU would add single runs in both the seventh and eighth innings, taking a 10-4 lead into the ninth.

In the top of the ninth, pinch-hitter Logan Walker would hit a ball into the right field corner, with Bien coming all the way around to score from first on the RBI triple. Later in the inning. Losby would hit his second home run of the day—this one a two-run shot to left field. Following an infield single for Lancaster, Kent State would turn to closer Brian Clark. Clark would come on and record the final out, preserving the win for the Golden Flashes.

Bowling Green will now take a break for spring semester exams this week, resuming play with a series against Miami next weekend. The three-game set will be played at Steller Field, beginning on Friday at 3 p.m.