DeKALB, Ill. – The Bowling Green State University baseball team continued their strong start to MAC play, sweeping the Saturday doubleheader against Northern Illinois to clinch the series sweep.
The series sweep marks the first for the Falcons in DeKalb in program history. It’s also the first time BGSU has tallied four MAC sweeps in a season since 2010. BGSU’s 12-0 MAC start is the best in program history while the 12 wins are the most consecutive MAC wins in program history.
In game one, junior outfielder Nathan Archer started the day off with a bang, knocking a solo home run as the leadoff batter. The Falcons added a second run in the inning, but NIU tied it up in the bottom half.
Two more runs in the second, including another Archer home run, pushed BGSU back to the lead at 4-2. NIU threatened in the bottom half again, but only got one for a 4-3 score.
From there, BGSU added insurance runs, scoring two in the fourth and three in the sixth, including a two-run home run by Jack Krause, for the 9-3 final.
As for the second game, a three-run second inning pushed BGSU to another early lead. NIU answered with a run in the bottom half with the teams playing with a 3-1 score through the fourth.
Landon Willeman orchestrated a strong start, striking out eight over six innings to keep BGSU in front. In the fifth, an Archer double kick-started a BGSU rally that plated five runs in the inning, using small ball to score with Archer’s leadoff double marking the only extra-base hit of the inning.
A two-run home run by D.J. Newman in the sixth pushed the score to 10-1 before another run in the seventh clinched the 11-1 run rule in seven innings.
Falcons setting the mark
Sam Seidel has reached base in every game he’s played in this season for the Falcons, bringing his on-base streak to 24 games this season. Dating back to last season, Seidel has reached base in 35-straight games.
Tyler Ross has reached base in each game he’s played in this season, accounting for a 20-game streak. Ross reached in the 2023 season finale as well for an 21-game streak going back to last year.
BGSU is one of five teams in the nation in the Top 30 for both home runs per game (22nd, 1.76) and triples per game (29th, 0.36).
The Falcons are one of just five teams in the nation currently to be in the top 30 for both home runs per game and triples per game. BGSU is joined on the short list by Virginia Tech, Florida State, Oregon State and Saint Mary’s (CA).
So far this season, Bowling Green is averaging 1.76 home runs per game which leads the Mid-American Conference and is ranked 22nd in the nation. As for triples, BGSU is averaging 0.36 per game, second in the MAC and 29th in the nation. For triples, Ross is averaging 0.15 per game which leads the MAC and is 11th nationally.
As a team, the Falcons enter the week averaging 9.6 runs per game, which not only leads the MAC but ranks sixth in the nation. The only teams averaging more runs per game are Wofford (11.4), Tennessee (10.4), Coastal Carolina (10.2), Virginia (10.0) and Oregon State (9.7).
In BGSU’s 25 games played this season the Falcons have scored at least seven runs in 17 games and have reached at least 10 runs in 11 games. Bowling Green’s 34 runs on the road against Ball State remain the most runs scored in a game by any team in the country this season.
Bowling Green is one of 24 teams in the nation, and the only one from the MAC, to rank inside the top 45 for batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage.
So far this season, the Falcons are slashing .307/.417/.516. BGSU’s slugging percentage (.516) ranks first in the MAC and 30th in the nation. Both batting average (.307) and on-base percentage (.417) are second in the MAC behind Western Michigan and rank 35th and 41st, respectively, in the nation.
Archer is closing in on history for the Falcons. Archer has already entered the top 10 all-time for career triples, currently tied for ninth with nine. Archer is now nearing the top 10 all-time for career home runs as well, currently with 26, two shy of tying Larry Owen (1974-77) for 10th in program history with 28.
If Archer can enter the top 10 for home runs he would become just the second player currently inside the top 10 all-time for both career triples and career home runs. The only player in program history that can claim that feat is Larry Arndt (1982-85).
Over four seasons with the Falcons, Arndt registered 11 triples, fifth all-time, and 35 home runs, fourth all-time and the program record at the time Arndt hit the mark. Arndt also broke the program record for career RBI (162) and is now fourth in program history for the stat.
The Falcons headed to Columbus on Tuesday to face the Ohio State Buckeyes. The next home game for the Falcons is scheduled for Wednesday at 3 p.m. against Purdue Fort Wayne.
