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BG is seeded #5 in the MAC Tournament and is on the much tougher side of the bracket IMO this year. Last year as a #6 seed BG had to play NIU and UT (three times) to get to the championship to face Ball State. That was a much easier route as we avoided Kent State and had one good inning offensively (which proved to be enough) and outstanding pitching to beat an undefeated Ball State team (BG had lost one game) for the title. This year BG is on the same side as #1 Ball State who ran away with the MAC this year and also swept BG. Plus, Despite winning the series with Kent State, the Golden Flashes have given BG fits over the years.

Here is what BG did vs the field this year:

#1 Ball State - BG went 0-3
#2 Central Michigan - BG went 1-2
#3 Miami - BG went 1-2
#4 Kent State - BG went 2-1
#6 Buffalo - BG went 2-1
#7 Akron - BG went 3-0
#8 Western Michigan - BG went 2-1

BG will play #4 Kent State and either/or #1 Ball State and #8 Western Michigan and will only face one of the other three teams if the Falcons advance to the championship. As always in the baseball tournament, winning the first game is crucial! You do not want to drop into the elimination bracket after day one.

MAC Tournament Schedule – Wednesday – May 21
Game 1 - No. 3 Miami vs. No. 6 Buffalo, 9:30 a.m.
Game 2 - No. 4 Kent State vs. No. 5 Bowling Green, 1:00 p.m.
Game 3 - No. 1 Ball State vs. No. 8 Western Michigan, 4:30 p.m.
Game 4 - No. 2 Central Michigan vs. No. 7 Akron, 8:00 p.m.

I have learned to never underestimate our baseball team late in the season. They always hit stride right about now.

BG is in all kinds of trouble early vs Kent State in game one, already down 5-0 in the 4th and KSU has chased Frank from the game. When I saw BG was seeded on the same side of the bracket with Ball State and Kent State I knew we were in store for a tough go. I know we took the series from Kent State but they have been our nemesis over the last decade. It is VERY hard to lose the first game of this tournament and hope to make the championship. Still some baseball to go here but we're in an early hole.

Buffalo also beat Miami in game one.

BG lost game one, 6-2. KSU outplayed BG in one inning and it stood for the game. The Falcons must now win four consecutive games to get back to the championship. Very tough road ahead. BG plays WMU at 9:30 in the morning on Wednesday.

In the last game of the day, Akron knocked off CMU. And that is why I wish BG was seeded on the other side of the bracket as both Buffalo and Akron pulled the upsets today. Being pitted against Ball State and Kent State was the two toughest opponents in the field IMO. I would swap out any of the opponents on the other side of the bracket over those two teams. I know CMU and Miami are seeded better than KSU but KSU has been THE program to beat in the MAC for the last five years and Ball State had the best team in the MAC in the regular season.

It's "Two & BBQ" for the Falcons. Just like that, BG is the first team bounced from the MAC Tournament. The Falcons carried a 4-3 lead into the top of the 9th vs WMU but gave up 4 runs and lost 7-4. Three bad innings in two games cost the Falcons dearly. Both teams (KSU & WMU) were teams BG won its regular season series against.

Quick exit...usually BG does some real damage in the tourney. BG finished 25-27 this year.

Kent State vs Akron in the MAC Championship today. KSU doesn't surprise me at all but I never saw Akron making it.

Kent State win the MAC Tournament again. KSU has now won it 5 of the last 6 years.

I wonder if there is a plan in place to restore the scholarships for the team yet. What Coach Schmitz has done with 3/4 of the scholarships that the rest of the conference has is impressive. I still have yet to understand why we wouldn't fully fund the best coach in the athletic department (no offense to any of the other coaches). Why not put the money in baseball and win MAC titles? Unlike many of the sports we have Baseball actually gets it done....fund the program, get some stadium renovations, and make sure BG can recruit the talent necessary to win titles.

Mr. Haas himself said that his donation is just a start. A million bucks is a ton of money but can't single-handedly fund the scholarships, salary increases, staff additions and facility renovations.

There needs to be a full commitment from the alumni base AND university to accomplish what needs to be accomplished. Based on those in the know like factman and others it sounds like things are headed in the right direction.