Taking One As A Team: Falcons Break Program Record For Hit-By-Pitch In Run Rule Victory
NILES, Ohio – The Bowling Green State University baseball team tallied a run-rule victory over Youngstown State on Wednesday (April 9) with a 17-5 final in seven innings. In doing so, Bowling Green broke the program record for hit-by-pitch in a game as a team. Six different Falcons were hit by a pitch in the game, totaling eight HBPs over the course of the contest. The free trips to first were complimented by two doubles from Carter Mottice, one from Brayden Curlis and one from Sam Seidel. Seidel added a home run, as did Cooper McKenzie, for the 17-5 victory. The Orange and Brown move to 22-9 on the season while being 16-5 when playing on the road.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- TJ Takats drew a seven-pitch walk to begin the game and stole second. With one on, Sam Seidel belted a two-run home run to right field, quickly putting the Falcons in front with a 2-0 lead before the first out of the game.
- Takats and Seidel went to work again in the third inning. Takats earned first by being hit by a pitch. Seidel followed with a double down the left field line, bringing Takats around from first for a 3-0 advantage with the first three BGSU RBI being attributed to Seidel.
- The Falcons kept it going in the third. Garrett Wright reached on an error and Seidel stole third to put runners at the corners. A walk to Cooper McKenzie loaded the bases, setting up an RBI single by Zack Horky to center, moving each runner up a base with Seidel scoring.
- Gunner Antillon was able to draw a walk in the next at-bat, continuing the station-to-station progress with Wright scoring. Carter Mottice stepped in and delivered his first collegiate hit, a two-RBI double to left, scoring Horky and McKenzie to push the lead to 7-0.
- Brayden Curlis ripped a liner to shortstop for a base hit, again loading the bases. Takats stepped in, batting around in the inning, and put a ball in play that was enough to score Antillon for an 8-0 tally.
- Seidel walked to load the bases back up before a pitching change for the Penguins. On the first pitch from the new arm, Wright was hit for the second time through three innings to force home Mottice for a 9-0 BGSU lead.
- In the fourth inning, Horky walked and Antillon singled to put two on. Mottice drilled his second double of the game, scoring Horky. A wild pitch then brought home Antillon and a single from Curlis scored Mottice for a 12-0 Falcon lead and a YSU pitching change.
- With Curlis still on, both Takats and Seidel were hit by pitches to load the bases. Wright lifted a sacrifice fly into center, scoring Curlis for a 13-0 score.
- Gavin Ganun drew a walk to load the bases and prompt another Youngstown State pitching change. After the adjustment on the mound, McKenzie drew another walk to force home Takats for a 14-0 tally.
- Youngstown State broke the shutout in the bottom of the sixth with five runs for a 14-5 score through six innings.
- McKenzie quickly brought the Bowling Green answer, crushing a solo shot to left field for a 15-5 advantage.
- Brock Amelung was hit by a pitch and Mottice drew a walk before both scored on a Curlis double to left, increasing the lead to 17-5.
STAT LEADERS
- Logan Bell: W (1-0), 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R/ER, 3 K
- Kade Arn: 2.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R/ER, 3 K
- Luke Krouse: 1.2 IP, 4 H, 0 R/ER, 2 K
- Carter Mottice: 2-for-4, 2 2B, 3 RBI, 3 R, 1 BB
- Brayden Curlis: 3-for-4, 1 2B, 3 RBI, 1 R, 1 HBP
- Sam Seidel: 2-for-2, 1 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2 R, 1 SB, 1 BB, 1 HBP
- Cooper McKenzie: 1-for-3, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2 R, 2 BB
- Zack Horky: 1-for-3, 1 RBI, 2 R, 1 BB
- Garrett Wright: 0-for-1, 2 RBI, 1 R, 2 HBP
- TJ Takats: 0-for-2, 1 RBI, 3 R, 2 BB, 1 SB, 2 HBP
- Gunner Antillon: 1-for-1, 1 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 HBP
- Brock Amelung: 0-for-0, 1 R, 1 HBP
FALCON STAT FACTS
- As a team, the Falcons were hit by a pitch eight times over the course of the game, setting the program record for the stat. In total, six different Falcons were hit during the game.
- Garrett Wright was hit by a pitch in the first inning and again in the third inning, his 16th and 17th times this year being hit. The HBPs moved Wright into sole possession of second all-time for a single-season, trailing only his own record set last season with 21. Wright's hit-by-pitch also extended his on-base streak to 19 games, the second-longest active streak on the team.
- Carter Mottice made his collegiate debut for the Falcons, getting the start in right field. His first collegiate hit came in the third inning with a bases loaded double, scoring two for his first two RBI as well. Mottice finished the game with two doubles, three RBI and three runs scored.
- Brayden Curlis registered a team-high three hits in the game, his first multi-hit game of his BGSU career. He added three RBI, tying for the team lead and marking his first multi-RBI game as well.
- Sam Seidel tallied three RBI for the seventh time this season, tying for the team lead. He also crushed a home run and a double in the game for the Falcons, his sixth double and fourth home run of the season.
- Logan Bell made his first career start for the Falcons, logging two innings of scoreless work with three strikeouts while picking up the win.
- Despite not logging a hit in the game, TJ Tataks scored three times, matching his season-high, thanks to drawing two walks and being hit by a pitch twice as well.
UP NEXT
Bowling Green will continue their time on the road with a weekend series in Kalamazoo, Mich., facing Western Michigan for three games. The series will start on Friday (April 11) with a 3:05 p.m. first pitch.
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