YPSILANTI, Mich. (Interstat) — Andrew Heffernan tossed eight innings of no-hit baseball and Bowling Green held on for a 2-1 victory over Eastern Michigan on Saturday afternoon at Oestrike Stadium, splitting the Mid-American Conference series after the Eagles won the opener Friday.

Heffernan, a right-hander for the Falcons, was dominant from the outset. He did not allow a hit over eight scoreless innings, walking two and striking out four. He faced only 28 batters, one over the minimum, and retired 13 straight at one point. The performance came six days after he allowed six hits and three earned runs in a loss to Toledo.

Bowling Green scored both of its runs in the top of the first inning. After Sam Seidel walked and Lan Vickers struck out looking, Seidel was caught stealing second. Anthony Mitta then walked, and Andrew DiLodovico doubled to left field, driving in Mitta for a 1-0 lead. TJ Takats struck out looking to end the inning, but the damage was done.

The Falcons added an unearned run in the top of the ninth. With the score 1-0, DiLodovico was hit by a pitch and replaced by pinch runner Alex Laird. Takats singled, advancing Laird to second. Zack Horky struck out on a bunt attempt. On a failed pickoff attempt by Eastern Michigan pitcher Landon Mueller, Takats advanced to second and Laird to third. Laird was then caught stealing at home on a throw from catcher to pitcher, but Takats moved to third. Carter Mottice singled to shortstop, scoring Takats to make it 2-0.

Eastern Michigan scored its only run in the bottom of the seventh. With one out, Kyle Stecko singled and stole second. He advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Crane. After a groundout, Weaver reached on a throwing error by third baseman, allowing Stecko to score unearned. The Eagles threatened again in the eighth, putting a runner on third with two outs, but a flyout ended the inning.

Heffernan was lifted after eight innings having thrown 98 pitches, 66 for strikes. Ty Roder relieved in the ninth and struck out the side in order, fanning Crane, Borchardt and Weaver all looking, to earn the save.

Eastern Michigan starter Cal Rutherford took the loss, allowing two hits and one earned run over 4.1 innings, walking three and striking out four. Thomas Rose followed with 2.2 hitless innings, striking out one. Brian Henson Jr. pitched a hitless eighth with two strikeouts. Mueller allowed two hits and an unearned run in the ninth, striking out one.

For Bowling Green, DiLodovico went 1 for 2 with a double, a walk, a hit-by-pitch and an RBI. Mottice was 1 for 4 with an RBI. Seidel was 1 for 3 with a walk. For Eastern Michigan, John Hale went 1 for 3 with a walk and a stolen base. Stecko was 1 for 3 with a stolen base and a run scored.

The game was the second of a three‑game series. Bowling Green evened its season record to 15‑25 overall, while Eastern Michigan fell to 14‑30.

The most critical sequence occurred in the top of the ninth. With the Falcons clinging to a one‑run lead, they manufactured an insurance run after two base runners reached on a hit‑by‑pitch and a single. Eastern Michigan’s defense unraveled on a pickoff attempt, allowing Takats to advance to second and eventually score on Mottice’s single. The unearned run proved decisive when Eastern Michigan’s ninth‑inning rally was snuffed out by Roder’s three strikeouts.

Heffernan’s previous start on April 25 against Toledo had been a rough outing, but he rebounded sharply against the Eagles, keeping them off the scoreboard and off the bases entirely until the seventh.

The Interstat game simulator had projected a final score of Eastern Michigan 3, Bowling Green 2, while Interstat’s ELO system gave Bowling Green a 58.10 percent probability to win. The Falcons will face Eastern Michigan again Sunday in the series finale before traveling to play Michigan State on Tuesday.