Box score
YPSILANTI, Mich.- With a Mid-American Conference Tournament berth on the line, the Eastern Michigan University softball team came up just short, falling to Bowling Green State University, 6-3, Sunday at Varsity Field. With the loss, the Eagles just missed out on qualifying for the upcoming MAC Tournament.
The Eagles conclude the season with a record of 22-30 (8-14 MAC) while Bowling Green moves its record to 13-31 (8-14 MAC). The Falcons received the No. 8 seed by virtue of a win over Kent State, the No. 2 seed in the conference, earlier in the season.
EMU struggled offensively, totaling only three hits on the afternoon compared to nine for BG. Sophomore pitcher Jaclyn Caro (Chino, Calif.-St. Lucy’s Priory) was tagged with the loss, going 7.0 innings and giving up six runs on nine hits while striking out three. Junior Jenny Scherer (Stow, Ohio-Stow-Munroe) hit a solo shot in the sixth, giving her 14 home runs on the season and setting a new single season standard.
Just like yesterday, Bowling Green jumped out to a quick advantage. A two-run third inning followed by a three-run fifth gave the Falcons a 5-0 lead before the Eagles got on the board in the bottom of the fifth. Freshman Kaylee Tolliver (Amanda, Ohio-Amanda Clearcreek) reached base on error by the shortstop and advanced to third base on the Eagles’ first hit of the contest, a Michelle Hletko (Westmont, Ill.-Westmont) single through the right side. Lauren Delapaz (Plymouth, Mich.-Canton) picked up an RBI, grounding out to the second baseman, allowing Tolliver to cross the plate and trim the lead to 5-1.
Scherer hit a two-out home run to left to bring the Eagles closer in the sixth, closing the gap to 5-2. BG’s Missy Bowman then led off the seventh with a home run of her own to push the Falcon advantage to 6-2.
The Eagles started to rally in the seventh, as Tolliver reached base after being hit in the helmet by a pitch. She was lifted for pinch runner Jessica Richards (Canton, Ohio-Jackson) who reached third on another Hletko single through the right side. Once again, a Delapaz groundout plated a run for the Eagles, bringing the home team within three, 6-3.
After pinch hitter Allison Scherer (Stow, Ohio-Stow-Munroe) reached on error by the shortstop, McKenna Russ (North Canton, Ohio-Hoover) lined out to short to end the game.
The contest marked the final game in an Eastern Michigan uniform for senior Heather Han (Lafayette, Ind.-McCutcheon). Han ends her career with 14 home runs (seventh all-time) and 31 doubles (sixth all-time) after playing in 188 career games.