Central Michigan University Athletics
Saturday, April 1
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
11 a.m.
Central Michigan University
13-12, 4-4
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Bowling Green
11-13, 6-5
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BGSU
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Central Michigan
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Photo by: Sydney Kline '26 - @sydney.kline.photography
Baseball Falls as Bowling Green Rallies in the 9th Inning
4/1/2023 2:40:00 PM | Baseball
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Bowling Green scored two unearned runs in the ninth inning on Saturday in handing Central Michigan a tough-to-swallow 3-2 Mid-American Conference baseball loss at Keilitz Field at Theunissen Stadium.
It was the Falcons' second straight win in the three-game series. The Chippewas (13-12, 4-4 MAC) will attempt to salvage the third and final game on Sunday (2 p.m.). Bowling Green is 11-13, 6-5.
"Winning's difficult," said CMU coach Jordan Bischel, who has guided the Chippewas to a combined four Mid-American Conference regular season and tournament championships since taking over the program before the 2019 season. "Sometimes we might have lost sight of that over the years because we've done a fair amount of it. The other team's trying to get a win too.
"Just got to play a little bit better baseball."
The Chippewas led, 2-1, when reliever Ryan Palmblad (1-3) walked Nathan Rose to lead off the top of the ninth. Rose went to second on a wild pitch and took third on a groundout for the first out of the inning.
With the Chippewa infield drawn in, Nathan Archer hit a slow roller to CMU second baseman Luke Sefcik. Sefcik's throw to first pulled first baseman Robby Morgan IV off the bag and Rose scored to tie the game, 2-2.
Gavin Ganun then singled to right center and Archer scored all the way from first to give Bowling Green a 3-2 lead.
"Late (in the game), obviously we didn't execute good pitching and defense and we ended up one short," Bischel said.
The ninth inning spoiled an otherwise solid effort by CMU, particularly starter Keegan Batka, who allowed one run on five hits over 6 1/3 innings. He struck out seven and walked one.
Batka has allowed just two earned runs over his last two starts covering 13 innings.
"We're confident in all of our pitchers, but certainly Keegan's throwing it really well right now," Bischel said. "He's had one or two not-great starts, but if you look at the vast majority of his outings, he's given us a great chance to win, and we know he'll continue to do that."
Palmblad surrendered two runs, both unearned, on just one hit in taking the loss. He struck out three.
The Chippewas got a run in the second inning on a Nick Dardas two-out RBI single. They added another in the fourth to break a 1-1 tie on a Marquis Jackson RBI groundout.
"I don't think there's any concern with bouncing back," Bischel said. "Sun's going to come up tomorrow and it's baseball. I know our guys will be excited to play."
It was the Falcons' second straight win in the three-game series. The Chippewas (13-12, 4-4 MAC) will attempt to salvage the third and final game on Sunday (2 p.m.). Bowling Green is 11-13, 6-5.
"Winning's difficult," said CMU coach Jordan Bischel, who has guided the Chippewas to a combined four Mid-American Conference regular season and tournament championships since taking over the program before the 2019 season. "Sometimes we might have lost sight of that over the years because we've done a fair amount of it. The other team's trying to get a win too.
"Just got to play a little bit better baseball."
The Chippewas led, 2-1, when reliever Ryan Palmblad (1-3) walked Nathan Rose to lead off the top of the ninth. Rose went to second on a wild pitch and took third on a groundout for the first out of the inning.
With the Chippewa infield drawn in, Nathan Archer hit a slow roller to CMU second baseman Luke Sefcik. Sefcik's throw to first pulled first baseman Robby Morgan IV off the bag and Rose scored to tie the game, 2-2.
Gavin Ganun then singled to right center and Archer scored all the way from first to give Bowling Green a 3-2 lead.
"Late (in the game), obviously we didn't execute good pitching and defense and we ended up one short," Bischel said.
The ninth inning spoiled an otherwise solid effort by CMU, particularly starter Keegan Batka, who allowed one run on five hits over 6 1/3 innings. He struck out seven and walked one.
Batka has allowed just two earned runs over his last two starts covering 13 innings.
"We're confident in all of our pitchers, but certainly Keegan's throwing it really well right now," Bischel said. "He's had one or two not-great starts, but if you look at the vast majority of his outings, he's given us a great chance to win, and we know he'll continue to do that."
Palmblad surrendered two runs, both unearned, on just one hit in taking the loss. He struck out three.
The Chippewas got a run in the second inning on a Nick Dardas two-out RBI single. They added another in the fourth to break a 1-1 tie on a Marquis Jackson RBI groundout.
"I don't think there's any concern with bouncing back," Bischel said. "Sun's going to come up tomorrow and it's baseball. I know our guys will be excited to play."
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Good,Nic (1-0)
L: Palmblad, Ryan (1-3)
Batting:
2B: Banjoff,Leighton 1
HR: Rose,Nathan 1
RBI: Rose,Nathan 1 ; Ganun,Gavin 1
SH: Ganun,Gavin 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Rose,Nathan 2 ; Archer,Nathan 1
Batting:
RBI: Jackson, Marquis 1 ; Dardas, Nick 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Sefcik, Luke 2
SB: Donahue, Jacob 1
CS: Simpson, Justin 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
2
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
RHP
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C
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OF
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LHP
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