MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The Bowling Green State University baseball team began the 2025 season with a doubleheader against Middle Tennessee on Friday (Feb. 14). The Falcons and Blue Raiders split the doubleheader on a day that included 31 total runs scored. After being held scoreless in the first game, Bowling Green battled back to claim the second game in a 7-6 final. The series will conclude later this weekend with the exact day and time dependent on the weather. As of now, both BGSU and MTSU hold 1-1 records on the season ahead of the yet to be determined rubber match. 

In the win, Landon Willeman produced 4.2 innings with six strikeouts in the start before handing the ball over to Luke Krouse who went on to claim the win. Titus Lotz offered two scoreless innings before Owen Poole closed it out in the ninth for his first career save. DJ Newman produced a four-hit game with two RBI while Gunner Antillon added three hits and a stolen base. Caden Parker clubbed a double and two RBI along with two runs scored as well. 

HOW IT HAPPENED, GAME 1

• Sam Seidel opened the season, reaching on a fielding error and taking second on another error, but couldn't advance further in the inning.
• Middle Tennessee came out swinging, putting up a five-spot in the first to move out in front through one. 
• The first BGSU hit came in the third inning with Seidel ripping a single up the middle, but didn't advance beyond first in the inning.
• The Falcons found the base paths again in the fourth. Garrett Sloan was hit by a pitch followed by a single off the bat of Gunner Antillon, putting runners at the corners. Antillon stole second for two in scoring position, but the inning ended before the Falcons could tally a run. 
• The Blue Raiders added to their total in the bottom of the fourth, scoring a pair for a 7-0 lead. 
• The Falcons were able to register a duo of singles in the sixth, but no runs crossed. MTSU added another run in the bottom half. 
• Bowling Green made noise again in the top of the seventh. Seidel knocked a two-out double off the middle followed by a walk to Garrett Wright.
• In the bottom half of the seventh, MTSU added two more to their score for a 10-0 advantage.
• The Blue Raiders added eight in the eighth inning, including a two-run home run, to push the lead to 18-0 for the eventual final.

STAT LEADERS, GAME 1

• Sam Seidel: 2-for-4, 1 2B
• Garrett Sloan: 1-for-1, 1 BB, 1 HBP
• Brady Birchmeier: 1-for-4
• Gunner Antillon: 1-for-4, 1 SB

HOW IT HAPPENED, GAME 2

• DJ Newman tallied the first hit of the second game with a single in the top of the first. Landon Willeman followed in the bottom half with a one-two-three inning on the mound for a scoreless start to the game.
• In the second inning, MTSU belted a two-run home run to move in front in the early going. 
• The Falcons brought their answer in the top of the third. Cooper McKenzie started the inning with a walk. Caden Parker hit into an error, putting runners at the corners. Sam Seidel delivered a single into shallow center, scoring McKenzie for the first BGSU run of the season.
• A sacrifice bunt by Garrett Wright moved the runners up, setting up an RBI single for Newman, scoring Parker and putting runners at corners once again. Newman then stole second to put two in scoring position, but the scoring stalled there with a 2-2 tie game.
• The Falcons kept it going in the fourth. Gunner Antillon singled followed by McKenzie reaching on an error. Parker stepped in and ripped a double down the right field line, scoring both Antillon and McKenzie for a 4-2 Bowling Green advantage.
• The rally continued later in the inning. Wright reached on a hit by pitch, setting up an RBI single for Newman to score Parker with Wright taking third and Newman second on the throw with a 5-2 tally.
• Middle Tennessee added two in the fifth before Luke Krouse came in as relief, recording an out to end the inning with the score at 5-4 BGSU.
• The Falcons quickly answered. Newman singled to right followed by back-to-back RBI doubles from TJ Takats and Brady Birchmeier, pushing the lead to 7-4. 
• The Blue Raiders worked to earn the two runs back in the bottom of the sixth for a 7-6 score.
• Owen Poole came on the ninth for the Falcons, sending the MTSU down in order, including two strikeouts, for the 7-6 win.

STAT LEADERS, GAME 2

• Landon Willeman: 4.2 IP, 5 H, 4 R/ER, 6 K
• Luke Krouse: W (1-0), 1.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R/ER, 2 K
• Titus Lotz: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R/ER
• Owen Poole: SV (1), 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R/ER, 2 K
• DJ Newman: 4-for-5, 2 RBI, 1 R, 1 SB
• Gunner Antillon: 3-for-3, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 SB
• TJ Takats: 1-for-3, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 R, 2 BB
• Caden Parker: 1-for-4, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R
• Brady Birchmeier: 1-for-5, 1 2B, 1 RBI
• Sam Seidel: 1-for-5, 1 RBI
• Garrett Wright: 2-for-3, 1 HBP
• Cooper McKenzie: 0-for-3, 2 R, 1 BB

FALCON STAT FACTS

• DJ Newman registered a team-high four hits in the second game of the day, matching his career-high for hits in a game. Newman drove in two of BGSU's runs in the game as well and scored once. 
• After setting the program record for hit-by-pitches in a season last year, Garrett Wright took his first for the team of the season in the second game of the day. Wright has now been hit 22 times in his BGSU career, one away from entering the top 10 in program history. Wright reached base in both contests, continuing his on-base streak from last year, now at 10 games across the offseason. 
• Gunner Antillon stole a base in each of the Falcons' games, giving him two through two games. Antillon added a three-hit effort in the second game, one of three Falcons to record multiple hits in the contest. 
• Coming in to close out the win, Owen Poole logged his first collegiate save, sending down all three batters he faced, including two via strikeout. Last year, Poole made 11 appearances out of the bullpen, recording a 3.38 ERA while striking out 12 batters over 13.1 innings of work. 
• Luke Krouse tallied the win for the Falcons, the second of his career. The first came last season in a 17-9 win over Toledo on April 30. 
• Both Carrson Sova and CJ Boudreaux made their collegiate debuts on the mound in game one for the Falcons, both making relief appearances. Fellow freshman Brayden Curlis and Chase Chopin did so at the plate in pinch hit appearances while transfers Garrett Sloan and Antillon made their BGSU debuts in the starting lineup. As for the second game, Titus Lotz made his BGSU debut after redshirting last season.
• Splitting the doubleheader, the Falcons will have the opportunity to win their opening series for the first time since 2022. 

UP NEXT
The Falcons and Blue Raiders will attempt to conclude the series on either Saturday (Feb. 15) or Sunday (Feb. 16) depending on the weather. As of now, both days are scheduled for 2 p.m. EST, 1 p.m. CT first pitches. 

Follow the Falcons
Be sure to follow the Falcons' baseball team on social media
Twitter - @BGSU_Athletics and @BGSU_Baseball
Instagram - 'bgfalcons' and 'bgsu_baseball'
Facebook - 'BGSU Athletics'
YouTube - 'Falcons Athletics'