The Bowling Green State University softball team scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, posting a walk-off 7-6 win over the University of Akron on Sunday afternoon in a Mid-American Conference thriller at Meserve Field.

Freshman Aaralyn Nogay’s two-out single scored sophomore Ashley Chevalier with the winning run. Nogay and Chevalier were two of the many key components of the Falcons’ Sunday victory.

BGSU led for nearly all of the game after scoring four first-inning runs. But, the Zips scored four times in the sixth inning to tie things up, then took the lead with an unearned run in the top of the seventh.

Reagan Williamson led off the BG seventh with a walk, and Marti Henkel’s sacrifice bunt moved pinch-runner Peyton Steffes to second. Chevalier walked after falling behind, 0-2, in the count, but a popup followed.

Down to their final out, the Falcons (5-22, 2-9 MAC) turned to pinch-hitter Scarlet Anderson. Anderson came through with a base hit – her first of the year – to score Steffes with the tying run.

Another pinch-hitter, Wynnie Reid, kept the inning alive by drawing a walk to load the bases. Then, Nogay singled through the right side of the Akron infield, with Chevalier scoring the winning run.

Freshman Taylor Behrendt drove in four runs, the highest total of her young career, and was one of four Falcons (Henkel, Nogay and Peyton Dolejs) with two hits in the win.

BG batters drew eight walks, with Chevalier and Williamson each walking three times. Chevalier reached base in all four of her trips to the plate on Sunday.

Lily Sullivan was 3-for-4 for the Zips (16-19, 7-5 MAC).

BGSU freshman Taylor Behrendt had both the first multiple-hit game and the first multi-RBI contest of her young career, going 2-for-4 with her first career double and driving in four runs.

Sophomore Ashley Chevalier reached base in seven of her eight plate appearances (.875 OBP) in the Akron series. Chevalier went 2-for-3 and was hit by a pitch in Saturday’s second game. Then, on Sunday, she was 1-for-1 with three walks and two runs scored.

Senior Peyton Dolejs had a hit in six-straight at-bats, going 4-for-4 in Saturday’s second game, then picking up hits in each of her first two plate appearances on Sunday. She raised her batting average 56 points in the two games.

Four Falcons – Chevalier, Dolejs, Aaralyn Nogay and Reagan Williamson – had an on-base percentage of .500 or higher in the Akron series.

The Falcons hit the road next weekend, facing Ball State in a three-game series. The teams are scheduled to play a single game on Friday followed by a Saturday doubleheader.