BUFFALO, N.Y. (Interstat) — The Bowling Green Falcons erupted for five first-inning runs and rode a powerful offensive display and dominant relief pitching to a 9-3 victory over the Canisius Golden Griffins in non-conference baseball Wednesday evening at Demske Sports Complex.

The Falcons, who entered the game having allowed 45 runs over their previous two losses, reversed their fortunes immediately against Canisius starter Kyle Finn. Lance Vickers was hit by a pitch, stole second, and scored along with Carter Mottice on Mottice’s two-run homer to center field. Two batters later, Andrew DiLodovico launched a solo shot to left, staking Bowling Green to a 3-0 lead before an out was recorded. The Falcons added two more in the frame on a walk and a hit batter, chasing Finn and setting the tone for the night.

Bowling Green starter Luke Krouse navigated five innings for the win, allowing three runs, two earned, on four hits. The Golden Griffins’ only sustained offense against him came in the third inning when Owen Silliman hit a two-run homer to right field, scoring Blake Herman and cutting the deficit to 3-2. Canisius added an unearned run in the fifth on a sacrifice fly by Eric Weeks.

The Falcons’ offense, however, consistently answered. DiLodovico hit his second solo homer of the game in the fifth inning. Later in the same frame, with a new pitcher on the mound, TJ Takats blasted a two-run shot to right, extending the lead to 6-2. Vickers added a solo homer in the sixth, and Takats struck again in the seventh with another two-run homer, his second of the game, to provide the final margin.

Takats, the Falcons’ top star, broke out of a recent slump in emphatic fashion. After going a combined 3 for 14 with one RBI over his previous four games, the first baseman went 2 for 5 with two home runs and four RBIs, driving in key runs that stifled any potential Canisius momentum.

Following Krouse, the Bowling Green bullpen was impenetrable. Reliever Kade Arn was overpowering, striking out seven of the ten batters he faced over three perfect innings of work. Chase Clatur recorded the final two outs in the ninth after the Golden Griffins loaded the bases on two hit batters and a walk.

Canisius reliever Brian Smith provided a bright spot for the home team, entering in the first inning and delivering 2 2/3 scoreless innings with four strikeouts. Silliman led the Golden Griffins offensively, going 2 for 3 with a home run, a walk, two RBIs and a run scored.

The most important part of the game was the Falcons’ immediate and powerful response in the top of the fifth inning. After Canisius had closed to within 3-2 in the third and threatened again in the fifth, Bowling Green’s offense reignited. DiLodovico’s second homer of the afternoon provided immediate breathing room. Then, after a pitching change, Takats’ first two-run homer of the game broke it open, transforming a one-run contest into a 6-2 lead and effectively securing the outcome against a struggling Canisius offense.

With the win, Bowling Green improved to 13-17 overall, while Canisius fell to 10-19. The Falcons out-hit the Golden Griffins 12 to 6. The result exceeded the projection from Interstat’s game simulator, which had forecast a 6-5 Bowling Green victory. The Falcons next travel to face Massachusetts for a three-game series beginning Friday. Canisius remains home to host Quinnipiac in a three-game set starting Friday.