Bowling Green State University sophomore D.J. Newman (Archbold) celebrates after hitting a three-run homer to put the Falcons up, 7-6. (Drake Harlett|Falcon Media Sports Network|BGSU Athletics)
The Bowling Green State University baseball team got back in the win column on Wednesday with an 8-7 victory over Purdue Fort Wayne at Steller Field.
The Falcons and Mastodons went back-and-forth throughout the game, but an eighth inning score put BGSU on top for the final. The win moves BGSU to 4-0 at home this season with their next eight games slated to be played at Steller Field.
The Falcons struck first with a run in the bottom of the first, but a home run in the top of the second for PFW tied the game at 1-1.
Brady Birchmeier jump-started a three-run bottom of the second with a solo blast of his own for a 4-1 BGSU lead through two innings. Purdue Fort Wayne tallied three in the fourth to tie before taking the lead with two in the fifth for a 6-4 score.
D.J. Newman hit a three-run homer in the sixth for a 7-6 BGSU advantage, but the Mastodons again tied it, this time at 7-7 in the top of the eighth. A BGSU run in the bottom of the eighth, though, secured the 8-7 final.
Nathan Archer began the game with a single to left field before Newman drew a walk to put two on for BGSU. Landon Roque stepped in and hit a single up the middle to score Archer for a 1-0 BGSU lead after the first inning. Purdue Fort Wayne hit a solo home run in the top of the second to tie the game at 1-1.
BGSU’s answer quickly came in the bottom half of the second. Birchmeier led off the half inning with a solo blast to right to put BGSU back on top, 2-1.
David Silva followed with a single and stole second. The steal became key with Caden Parker ripping a ground ball down the first base line into right field for a single, scoring Silva for a 3-1 lead.
After Parker’s RBI, Archer was hit by a pitch to put two on for the Falcons, resulting in a pitching change for the Mastodons. After the change, Newman reached on a fielder’s choice to put runners at the corners. That was enough for Roque to slap a single, scoring Parker for a 4-1 lead.
The two teams played a scoreless third inning before Purdue Fort Wayne tallied three in the fourth to tie the game at 4-4 and then two more in the fifth for a 6-4 lead.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Falcons put together a two-out rally. Archer started the action with a single off a high bouncer in front of the catcher. Archer took second on a wild pitch before Sam Seidel joined him via walk. After another PFW pitching change, Newman blasted a three-run home run to left center to move the Falcons back in front, 7-6.
In the top of the eighth, a leadoff triple put a runner on third for the Mastodons, scoring on a passed ball for a 7-7 tie game.
Bowling Green reclaimed the lead in the bottom half. Parker drew a walk and moved to second on an Archer grounder. Seidel singled into right center, scoring Parker for the 8-7 BGSU lead and eventual final score.
On the mound, Peyton Wilson picked up his first win of the season for the Falcons and his first win since March 26, 2023.
BGSU will continue their nine-game homestand this weekend with a trio of contests against the Central Michigan Chippewas.
After a schedule change due to weather, BGSU and CMU are set for a Saturday doubleheader before concluding the series on Sunday.
The doubleheader will be Little League Day and is set for a noon start. As for Sunday, the game is currently scheduled for a 1 p.m. first pitch at Steller Field. The Falcons enter the series first in the Mid-American Conference and the only undefeated team left in conference play (12-0).
