Falcons Ground Eagles, 6-1, in Finale at Varsity Field

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University softball team dropped the second of a two-game series with Bowling Green State University, 6-1, Sunday, April 21, at Varsity Field. The Eagles (12-29-1; 2-12 MAC) had just three hits, while BGSU (23-17; 7-9 MAC) plated six runs on eight hits.

The Green and White scored one run on three hits in the loss. Courtney Loe (Temperance, Mich.-Bedford) went 1-for-1 with a double, while Katy Blaharski (Carleton, Mich.-Airport) and Cassidy Jenkins (Columbus, Ohio-St. Francis De Sales) each had singles for EMU.

Jenna Ignowski (Niles, Mich.-Niles) made the start for Eastern, tossing five strong innings. Ignowski (7-7-) was saddled with the loss after allowing three runs, two earned, on four hits, while punching out five. Lindsay Rich (Perrysburg, Ohio-Perrysburg) threw the final two innings and allowed three runs, two earned on four hits. Paris Imholz (14-6) went 5.2 innings for BG and allowed one unearned run on two hits. Jamie Kertes picked up her fifth save of the season after allowing one hit in 1.1 innings.

Eastern used a dropped toss over to first in the second to get an early 1-0 lead. Amanda Stanton (Homer Glen, Ill.-Lockport Township) led off the inning with a walk before Loe dropped down a sacrifice bunt. After getting the bunt down, Loe was able to reach with a mishandled toss over to first base, allowing Stanton to get to third. Jenn Lucas (Pinckney, Mich.-Pinckney) hit a sharp liner to deep centerfield, scoring Stanton from third.

The Falcons took the lead in the ensuing half inning. Emily McClelland led off the inning with a triple down the leftfield line bringing Hannah Fulk to the plate. Fulk launched a pitch over the fence in leftfield to give BGSU a 2-1 lead in the third.

The Eagles finally broke Imholz in the bottom of the fifth when Jenkins put a grounder back up the middle for the first hit of the game for EMU.

Bowling Green extended their lead to two runs, 3-1, in the sixth. Marisa Shook led off the inning with an infield single, marking the end of the day for Ignowski. After getting a pair of quick outs, Rich let up a single to Adrienne Dick to score Erika Stratton from second.

BG added a trio of runs in the top of the seventh to make it 6-1. McClelland led off with walk, followed by a Fulk single and a Paige Berger single to load the bases. After getting two bases loaded outs, Stratton ripped a single to right field, scoring Fulk, while Berger came around to score when the EMU right fielder fumbled the ball, making it 5-1. With runners at first and third, pinch runner Jessica Gregg took off to steal second, on the throw Katie Yoho took home to make it a final of 6-1 at Varsity Field.

The Eagles are off until Friday, April 26, when they host Miami University for a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Varsity Field.

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Team Stats

Katy Blaharski

Cassidy Jenkins

Courtney Loe

Courtney Nicholson

Eastern Michigan Athletics