Falcons Prep For Final Non-Conference Weekend Before MAC Play Begins
CARBONDALE, Ill. – The Bowling Green State University baseball team will continue the 2025 season in Illinois with a four-game series, marking the final weekend series before conference play begins for the Falcons. BGSU will play two games against both Southern Indiana and Southern Illinois with Southern Illinois hosting the weekend. Bowling Green enters the weekend slate with a 4-2 record on the season and will play a game against Dayton next Tuesday (March 5) before MAC play starts. Friday (Feb. 28) will be against Southern Indiana with a 1 p.m. EST start. The Falcons will then play a doubleheader on Saturday (March 1) beginning with Southern Illinois at 1 p.m. and then Southern Indiana at 5 p.m. The weekend will wrap up on Sunday (March 2) against Southern Illinois at 1 p.m.
Current Weekend Schedule
Friday, Feb. 28 vs. Southern Indiana | 1 p.m. EST
Saturday, March 1 at Southern Illinois | 1 p.m. EST
Saturday, March 1 vs. Southern Indiana | 5 p.m. EST
Sunday, March 2 at Southern Illinois | 1 p.m. EST
Scouting Southern Indiana
The Screaming Eagles will play a Wednesday (Feb. 26) game against Saint Louis before venturing to face the Falcons in Carbondale. Going into the game against SLU, Southern Indiana holds a 4-2 record on the season. At the plate, the Screaming Eagles have been led by senior outfielder Khi Holiday. Holiday leads the team in hits (11), runs (10), RBI (10) and stolen bases (7). Last year, USI played four games against MAC opponents, going 2-1 against Eastern Michigan while falling to Ball State.
Series History
- Bowling Green and Southern Indiana will be meeting for the first time in program history.
- Southern Indiana will enter the BGSU record book as the 273rd different opponent in program history and the second new addition this season, joining USC Upstate.
- Southern Indiana opened the season taking three of four from Alabama State before splitting a series with Evansville. They'll face Saint Louis on Wednesday (Feb. 26) before the weekend series.
Scouting Southern Illinois
The Salukis are currently 4-3 on the season. SUI opened the year by dropping three of their first four, but have bounced back by winning each of their last three. Earlier this week, the Salukis first baseman Cecil Lofton was named Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week after belting two home runs and two doubles for a 1.077 slugging percentage. As a team, Southern Illinois is coming off a 33-win season in 2024.
Series History
- Bowling Green and Southern Illinois have met three times previously in program history, all at neutral sites. The Falcons took the first meeting in 1979, but Southern Illinois claimed games in 1980 and 1985.
- Southern Illinois will enter the weekend with a 4-3 record, including winners in their last three. They topped Tennessee Tech twice and added Arkansas State to the list on Tuesday (Feb. 25).
What To Watch For
- The Falcons are currently 4-2, the team's best start since the 2007 campaign. With five games left before conference play begins, Bowling Green is looking to enter MAC play with a record above .500 for the first time since 2008 when they were 8-7 to start the non-conference season.
- Bowling Green enters the weekend ranked 29th in the nation and second in the Mid-American Conference for double plays per game, averaging 1.00.
- The Orange and Brown are currently 49th in the nation and second in the MAC for stolen bases per game, averaging 2.00. Gunner Antillon leads the way for the Falcons with four stolen bases followed closely by DJ Newman with three. In total, six different Falcons have at least one steal.
Birchmeier Blasts For Bowling Green
Brady Birchmeier is off to a hot start for the Falcons in 2025. Birchmeier is the only Falcon to log at least one hit in each of BGSU's first six games and leads the team in RBI with 10. He also ranks 47th in the nation and second in the MAC for RBI per game, averaging 1.67. A key for Birchmeier has been his power, blasting two home runs already this year. Not only is Birchmeier one of two Falcons with multiple home runs this year, he's also already matched his home run total from his freshman campaign in 2024 after redshirting in 2023. The power swing isn't anything new for Birchmeier, who blasted 27 home runs over his final two high school seasons.
Lotz To Be Excited About
After redshirting during the 2024 season, Titus Lotz has jumped onto the scene for the Falcons to start the 2025 campaign. Lotz made his BGSU debut against Middle Tennessee, tossing two scoreless innings with just one hit and one walk allowed. He followed it up against USC Upstate by picking up the win over 2.1 scoreless innings of relief while striking out three and again allowing just one hit and one walk. In high school, Lotz was named a 2023 Perfect Game Preseason All-American and was graded the No. 2 left-handed pitcher in the state of Ohio by Perfect Game. He was named the Division II Co-Pitcher of the Year following a 6-1 record, 0.86 ERA and 0.67 WHIP.
Poole From The 'Pen
Through the first six games, Owen Poole has established himself as a key piece in the Bowling Green bullpen. Poole has made a team-high three appearances through six games, logging both of BGSU's saves this season. Poole is tied for ninth in the nation and second in the MAC for saves and is already putting himself in position to enter the BGSU record book. He needs six saves to enter the Top 10 for saves in a season with the program record being eight.
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