McKenzie’s Ninth Inning Pinch Hit Blast Grants BGSU Win Over USC Upstate

In the ninth, TJ Takats started the inning with a single and a steal, setting up a Brady Birchmeier RBI double to tie the game. USC Upstate made a pitching change, but a hit by pitch to Garrett Sloan put two on for the Falcons with only one out. Cooper McKenzie was called on as a pinch hitter and delivered his first career home run in the form of a three-run blast to grant the Orange and Brown the win.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The two teams began the game with a scoreless first inning. USC Upstate attempted to steal home, but the Falcons caught the runner to end the inning with the 0-0 tie intact.
• Gunner Antillon reached in the second inning on an error for the first BGSU baserunner. He stole second, but didn’t advance beyond there in the inning.
• The first Bowling Green hit of the game came in the top of the fourth with Garrett Wright striking a double to right center to start the frame. DJ Newman followed with a single up the middle to put runners at the corners with no outs in the fourth. TJ Takats stepped in and put a ball in play that brought home Wright for the first run of the game and a 1-0 BGSU lead.
• In the bottom half of the fourth, Upstate answered with a run to knot it back up at 1-1.
• In the fifth, Upstate put runners at the corners, but Ty Roder worked out of the jam with three straight outs to keep the 1-1 score.
• Newman reached in the sixth for the Falcons, stealing second and taking third on a Takats fly out to right, but couldn’t find a way home with the 1-1 score holding.
• A home run for Upstate in the sixth broke the tie, putting the Spartans in front 2-1.
• The score remained until the ninth. Takats knocked a single and stole second, setting up an RBI double to left center by Brady Birchmeier to knot it up 2-2 with no outs in the ninth, prompting an Upstate pitching change. 

• After the change, Garrett Sloan was hit by a pitch to put two on for the Falcons. Cooper McKenzie was called on to pinch hit and blasted a three-run home run to push BGSU in front 5-2. 

STAT LEADERS

• Cooper McKenzie: 1-for-1, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 R
• Garrett Wright: 2-for-4, 1 2B, 1 R
• DJ Newman: 2-for-4, 1 SB
• Brady Birchmeier: 1-for-4, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 R
• TJ Takats: 1-for-4, 1 R, 1 SB
• Caden Parker: 1-for-3, 1 BB
• Owen Poole: SV (2), 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R/ER, 2 K
• Titus Lotz: W (1-0), 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R/ER, 3 K
• Landon Willeman: 4.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R/ER, 2 K

FALCON STAT FACTS

• With the win, the Falcons are off to a 3-1 start for the first time since 2007, which also marks the last time the Falcons won four of their first six games (won the first two weekend series). 
• Cooper McKenzie’s ninth-inning pinch hit home run marked the first of his BGSU career. The three RBI on the blast also mark a new career-high.
• Brady Birchmeier tallied the first Falcon RBI of the ninth inning, increasing his hold on the team lead to six in the early going of the season. 
• Owen Poole recorded his second save of the season through three BGSU wins. He is now second on the active roster in saves, trailing only Jacob Turner’s six.
• Titus Lotz tossed two-and-a-third scoreless frames for the Falcons, striking out three and recording his first win at the collegiate level in just his second appearance. 
• Garrett Wright registered two hits for the Falcons, extending his on-base streak to a team-high 12 games going back to last season. 
• The win is the first over USC Upstate in program history with this being the first meeting all-time. 

UP NEXT
The Falcons will put their two-game series against USC Upstate on pause for a Saturday (Feb. 22) tilt against Presbyterian. BGSU and the Blue Hose will face off with a 3 p.m. first pitch in Clinton, S.C. before the Falcons return to Spartanburg on Sunday (Feb. 23) for a 1 p.m. start against USC Upstate. 

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