FREMONT — The Bowling Green baseball team got back on the winning track Monday with an 18-5 conference victory at Fremont Ross.
On Wednesday, BG finished the two game sweep over the Little Giants, winning 8-1. The Bobcats improved to 9-6 overall and 4-4 in the Northern Lakes League Cardinal Division.
Monday, BG jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, scoring single runs in the first two innings. Senior third baseman Braden Loomis plated the Bobcats’ initial tally with an RBI groundout in the opening frame. Then, junior second baseman Joey Kline drove in BG’s second run with a sharp two-out single to center field the following stanza.
The Little Giants scored all five of their runs in the last half of the second, assisted by a hit batter, four walks, and a two-out, bases-loaded double by junior third baseman Braylon Schneider that scored three.
Not phased, the Bobcats evened the contest at 5-5 with three in the third. Loomis and junior second baseman Evan Meyer opened the inning by reaching on a hit by pitch and walk, respectively.
Senior first baseman Will Brose followed with a two-run line double to left center. After senior designated hitter Silas Green reached on another HBP, senior left felder Caleb Kunstmann successfully moved the runners over with a sacrifice bunt for the first out of the inning. Kline then brought home Brose with a ground out to short.
BG then took the lead for good in the fifth, scoring three more times via two more hits batsmen, a walk, a two-out, two-run double down the left field line by junior right fielder Rhett Winger, and a double steal by Winger and sophomore center fielder Kasey Dean which resulted in Winger scoring on a throwing error by the catcher past the third baseman.
The visitors broke the game open in the seventh with a 10-run onslaught. Loomis drove in three with a pair of doubles as did senior shortstop Jack Brown on two singles (including a mental error infield hit to short).
Kunstmann, who threw out a runner at home to complete an inning-ending double-play in the first, also drove in two teammates with a single to center. BG’s other two runs came home on an infield hit to SS by Winger and a throwing error on the same play. The Bobcats were assisted by six walks in the big inning by two pitchers who combined for 59 pitches.
Senior Matthew Brinkman (2-0) picked up the win in relief of senior starter Andrew Clayool. Brinkman worked the game’s final 3 2/3 innings, allowing one hit while walking four. Like Claypool, he struck out three. Junior Karson Kayden, the first of three Little Giant pitchers, suffered the loss. The FRHS hurlers threw a total of 205 pitches on the day.
The BG defense played its third error-free game of the season.
BGHS hosts Perrysburg on Friday (5 p.m.) and Ottawa Hills on Saturday (11 a.m.) to conclude the team’s scheduled games for the week.
