SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Bowling Green State University softball team exploded for four runs in the fifth inning and three more in the seventh, en route to a 9-1 win over Monmouth Saturday afternoon (Feb. 8). The game, part of day-two action at the Spartan Classic, was played at Cyrill Stadium.

Junior Hannah Hunt homered and drove in five runs, while sophomore Peyton Steffes also homered in the win. Hunt was 3-for-4 with a double and two runs scored in addition to the round-tripper, while Steffes was 2-of-3 and had a walk and a double.

In her collegiate debut, freshman Sydney Marshall picked up the win, allowing one run and four hits in six innings of work. Junior Katie Hutter joined Hunt and Steffes with a multi-hit game, going 2-for-3 with a run scored, while redshirt freshman Addie Martin scored three runs.

In the second game of the day, the Falcons (2-2) fell, 8-0, to host USC Upstate. Maddie Drerup allowed just one hit in her five-inning complete game for the hosts.

BGSU-MONMOUTH – HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Falcons got on the board early. Peyton Steffes and Taylor Behrendt each drew walks to begin the game, and Addie Martin's single loaded the bases. Steffes came home on a Hannah Hunt sacrfice fly to give BGSU the lead.
• The Hawks tied the contest in the third inning. A walk, an infield error, a sac bunt and a sac fly made it a 1-1 game.
• But, BGSU responded immediately with a fourth-inning run. Martin reached on an error, then stole second. She came around to score on Hunt's single. BG would load the bases, as Cameron Kaufman and Katie Hutter each singled as well, but the Falcons could not add to the 2-1 lead. Not until the next inning, that is.
• The Falcons used the long ball to break the game open in the fifth. Steffes led off the inning with a homer to right, for her first collegiate round-tripper. Behrendt singled, and Martin walked, and Hunt followed with her first collegiate homer, a three-run shot to center.
• In the top of the seventh, the Falcons added to the already large lead. Martin was hit by a pitch, and immediately scored on a double off the bat of Hunt. One out later, Hutter singled to put runners at the corners. Hutter stole second, and Hunt would score on a wild pitch. Then, Hanna Massaro's single plated Hutter with BGSU's ninth run.
• Meanwhile, in the circle, freshman Sydney Marshall was stellar in her BGSU debut. She allowed just three hits and one run in six innings of work, walking one and striking out one to pick up the win. Senior Madi Young pitched a one-two-three seventh inning.

BGSU-USC UPSTATE – HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Falcons and USC Upstate were scoreless through two innings, but the Spartans exploded for an eight-run third. Eight of Upstate's 10 hits in the game came in that inning.
• The first seven batters of that third frame reached safely. Abigail Pippen had a two-run, bases-loaded double to get the Spartans on the scoreboard, and later in the inning, a Taliyah Thomas two-run homer capped the big inning.
• BGSU's lone hit was a Kaufman double in the fourth inning. That put runners at second and third with one out, but Upstate pitcher Maddie Drerup escaped the jam by retiring the next two hitters.
• Steffes drew a pair of walks in the contest.

UP NEXT
• The Falcons will conclude weekend action with one final game in the Spartan Classic on Sunday morning (Feb. 9). BGSU will face Mid-American Conference foe Akron, with first pitch set for 10:00 a.m.

FOLLOW THE FALCONS
• For more information on BGSU softball, follow the Falcons on Twitter (@BGAthletics and @BGSUSoftball) and Instagram (@bgsu_softball) as well as on the web right here at BGSUFalcons.com.