Bowling Green State University Athletics
Friday, March 27
DeKalb, IL
2:05 p.m. ET
Bowling Green State University
at
Northern Illinois
Falcons Hit The Road To Take On NIU
March 26, 2015 | Baseball
Bowling Green Falcons (5-14, 0-3 MAC)
at
Northern Illinois Huskies (11-12, 2-1 MAC)
Ralph McKinzie Field (DeKalb, Ill.)
March 27-29 | 2:05 p.m. ET/1:05 p.m. CT
Friday | LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO ($)
Saturday | LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO ($)
Sunday | LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO ($)
Complete Game Notes (.pdf)
at
Northern Illinois Huskies (11-12, 2-1 MAC)
Ralph McKinzie Field (DeKalb, Ill.)
March 27-29 | 2:05 p.m. ET/1:05 p.m. CT
Friday | LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO ($)
Saturday | LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO ($)
Sunday | LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO ($)
Complete Game Notes (.pdf)
The Weekend Ahead
The Bowling Green State University baseball team travels to Northern Illinois for a three-game series to continue Mid-American Conference play over the weekend. The Falcons and Huskies will begin their series at 2:05 p.m. ET/1:05 p.m. CT on Friday afternoon at Ralph McKinzie Field in DeKalb, Ill. Both Saturday and Sunday are also slated for a 2:05 p.m. ET/1:05 p.m. CT first pitch.
The Falcon Coaching Staff
Bowling Green is coached by Danny Schmitz, who is in his 25th season at the helm of the Orange and Brown. Schmitz owns 642 career wins and 332 Mid-American Conference wins in his career, both of which are the third-most in MAC history. He is assisted by Rick Blanc, who is in his eighth season in charge of BGSU's pitchers and recruiting. Ryan Shay coaches the hitters and infielders, while Garrett Gray coaches the catchers under Schmitz.
About The Falcons
The BGSU baseball program is in the midst of its 95th season playing varsity baseball, with an all-time record of 1,593-1,386-27. The Falcons have won seven MAC East championships, five MAC regular season titles, and have won the MAC Tournament on three occasions. Bowling Green has qualified for the MAC Tournament 11 times since 1994, including six times in the last seven seasons.
The NIU Series
Bowling Green leads the all-time series against the Huskies with a record of 28-14-1. Last season, after losing in the series opener to NIU, the Falcons swept a doubleheader which really turned the season around. After losing on Friday night to NIU last year, the Falcons were 6-16 on the season and 0-4 in the MAC. But, after a day off due to weather, BGSU came out and swept the last two games of the series and finished the regular season 19-9 in their last 28.
Another Home Opener
Friday's game at Northern Illinois will mark the third home opener the Falcons have been a part of this season already as the road team, including the second straight game. BGSU started the season at Southeast Missouri (Feb. 13). Then, the Falcons traveled to Michigan (March 24) this past Tuesday for their home opener, and will do the same at NIU this weekend.
Scouting The Huskies
Northern Illinois enters the week with an overall record of 11-11, with a scheduled game on Wednesday at Illinois-Chicago. NIU is 2-1 in the Mid-American Conference, having played the University at Buffalo last weekend. Although scheduled to be a road series for NIU, it was moved to Grand Park in Westfield, Ind. due to poor field conditions in Amherst.
Mike Kunigonis is in his first season as head coach of the Huskies, having been hired in January 2015 after a late-fall departure of former head coach Ed Mathey. He is assisted by Andrew Maki, Luke Steward, and Connor Duckhorn.
As a team, NIU is batting .256 entering Wednesday with an on-base percentage of .354. The Huskies have 49 total extra-base hits in their first 22 games, good for a slugging percentage of .348. While just second baseman Justin Fletcher has started every game, shortstop Brian Sisler leads the Huskies. Sisler, who has started 21 games thus far, is hitting .338 on the year. NIU has been successful on 27-of-39 stolen base attempts, while allowing opponents to steal on 18-of-23 attempts.
Northern Illinois' pitching staff enters the weekend with a team ERA of 5.28, but allowed just eight runs over the weekend to Buffalo, including three in the weekend's first two games. Projected Friday starter Ben Neumann comes in with a 3-1 record and 2.67 ERA in six starts. He has tossed 33.2 innings to date, striking out 27 batters and allowing just 10 earned runs.
They Said It
Head coach Danny Schmitz on the weekend series at NIU: "This upcoming weekend is crucial. Nobody is going to feel sorry for us, but we have to pick it up in all phases and get on a roll. Over one-third of the season is already behind us, so we need to get going and find a way to turn it around."
Basalyga Doubles Twice At Michigan
Sophomore Greg Basalyga set a new career standard with two doubles in Tuesday's game at Michigan. The Pickerington, Ohio native is now leading the team in batting average at .339 and has four doubles and a triple on the season.
Michigan Natives Take Field In Ann Arbor
All three of Bowling Green's players who hail from the state of Michigan saw action on Tuesday against the Wolverines. Both Kory Brown (Sparta) and Randy Righter (West Bloomfield) had RBI doubles in the game, while Ann Arbor native Rob Zenas saw 1.1 innings on the mound. The Falcons will return to Pure Michigan for games at Eastern Michigan (Apr. 8) and at Central Michigan (Apr. 24-26) later this year.
Landi Returns To The Land Of Lincoln
Geneva, Ill. native Tony Landi will make a homecoming appearance this weekend against NIU in DeKalb. Just 25 miles from Geneva, Landi is expected to have family and friends in attendance over the weekend to support the Falcons. The right-handed pitcher has tossed 14.1 innings in eight relief appearances this season to date. Â
Rait Roaming Right Field
Liberty Township, Ohio native Jesse Rait has started 130 games during his BGSU career, most of them coming in right field for the Orange and Brown. Rait has shined defensively for much of his career, turning in 17 outfield assists. Rait currently has three outfield assists this season, including one over the weekend.
Falcons Chasing Career Records
Bowling Green also has several players that are looking to insert themselves into the career record book before all is said and done in 2015:
• Brian Bien is currently 37 at bats shy of moving into a tie for ninth all-time with 635
• Jason Link is eight appearances shy from moving into the top 10 at BGSU, with 61 career appearances entering the weekend
• Brandon Howard currently sits eighth with 42 career stolen bases and could move into a seventh-place tie with two this weekend
• Brian Bien is fourth all-time with 486 career assists, just 22 behind moving into a third-place tie
First Inning Falcons
Bowling Green has gotten off to several good starts this season, outscoring opponents 18-8 in the first inning of games this season. In total, the Falcons have scored in the first inning seven times this season, compiling a 4-3 record when doing so.
Seventh Inning Stretch
The Falcons have made the seventh inning big for them this season, outscoring opponents 17-2 in that frame. That success has paid off for the Falcons, as they are 5-0 this season when leading after seven innings.
Keegan's Cannon
Replacing the Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Year in T.J. Losby is not a task that many players embrace, but Trey Keegan has done just that this season with much success. On top of batting .333 to date, Keegan has thrown out 8-of-19 (.421) would-be base stealers in 2015. For his career, Keegan has gunned out 14-of-33 (.424) would-be base stealers.
Stealing Wins In 2015
In the Falcons' five wins so far this season, they have combined to steal 16 bases. In each of their wins this season, BGSU has swiped at least two bags. In their 14 losses, however, the Falcons have just seven stolen bases. During their eight-game losing streak, the Orange and Brown have just three stolen bases to their credit.
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