TOLEDO, Ohio – Seven of the nine players in the batting order had at least one hit, but the Bowling Green State University softball team fell, 9-4, to the University of Toledo on Friday afternoon (April 25). The game, the opening contest of the teams' Mid-American Conference weekend series, took place at Scott Park.

Junior Kendall Mathews and sophomore Cameron Kaufman each had two hits for the Falcons (15-31, 7-15 MAC). Kaufman's two safeties included a double, while Mathews had her team-leading fourth triple of the season.

But, the Rockets (15-26, 8-12 MAC) pounded out 12 hits, including five for extra bases. Samantha Bolding led the way, going 3-for-3 with a pair of homers.

Toledo never trailed, although the Falcons tied the game in the third inning. Three times in the game, the Orange and Brown scored one or more runs in the top of an inning, only to see the hosts answer in the bottom of the frame.

BGSU-TOLEDO  – HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Rockets got on the scoreboard early, as Eli Enriquez led off the bottom of the first inning with a double to left-center. She would steal third base and come home on a bloop single by Sidney Griffith.
• BGSU starter Morgan Beckham set down the Rockets in order in the second, and the Falcons tied the score in the third. Katie Hutter roped a ball to right-center field for a one-out double, and Addie Martin plated her with a two-out single to left. Martin got all the way to third when the throw to the plate skipped away from the catcher. But, UT starting pitcher Sophia Knight got an inning-ending popup.
• The Rockets retook the lead in the bottom of the third. Enriquez walked and stole second, and Griffith beat out a ground ball up the middle despite a nifty play by shortstop Cameron Kaufman. Kaufman ranged far to her left, grabbed the ball, spun and fired a strike to Taylor Behrendt at first, but it was not in time to get the speedy Griffith.
• With runners at the corners, Griffith stole second, and the runners then moved up on a passed ball, with Enriquez crossing the plate. Griffith scored from third on a Kendra Vander Lugt sacrifice fly, and a solo homer by Samantha Bolding gave the hosts a 4-1 lead. Toledo would add to the lead on a Maris Barbato single, a pair of walks and two wild pitches.
• Kaufman led off the fourth with a double to left-center, and Peyton Steffes bunted her to third. With two outs, Ava McKee singled to score Kaufman, and after a wild pitch, Hanna Massaro's base hit allowed McKee to score from second and make it a 5-3 game.
• But, the Rockets would respond. After a one-out single by Griffith in the bottom of the fourth, Vander Lugt homered to center to restore the hosts' four-run advantage.
• BGSU put two runners aboard in the fifth, as Behrendt led off with a single, and Hannah Hunt was hit by a pitch with one out. But, Knight and the Rockets escaped the inning by getting a pair of ground balls.
• UT put two runners on base in the home half of the fifth, on a pair of singles. But, on a bunt attempt by Grace O'Malley, third baseman Martin threw home and catcher McKee put the tag on a UT baserunner. Then, with runners on second and third, left fielder Kendall Mathews caught a fly ball and fired home. The runner on third tagged and started for home, but retreated when the throw from Mathews was on target. In the process, the Rocket runner on second had made it nearly all the way to third, and wound up being tagged out by second baseman Hunt for an inning-ending double play.
• Mathews led off the sixth inning by roping a ball to the base of the wall in right-center, sliding in with a triple. Then, everyone was safe on a sac bunt by Massaro, as the throw to the plate was off line. Mathews scored and Massaro continued on to second, making it a 7-4 game.
• Toledo added to the lead in the bottom of the sixth, as Bolding hit a two-out, two-run homer.
• Kaufman beat out a roller to the right side, sliding in headfirst for a two-out single in the seventh, but Knight retired the next hitter to close out the game.

UP NEXT
• The Falcons and Rockets will continue their three-game series on Saturday (April 26), with a doubleheader at Scott Park. First pitch of Saturday's first game is set for 1:00 p.m, and both games are scheduled to be aired by BCSN in the Toledo area and streamed on ESPN+.

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