BOWLING GREEN, Ohio (Interstat) — Hayden Bailey authored a dominant performance on the mound, and the Central Michigan Chippewas capitalized on a pivotal third inning to shut out the Bowling Green Falcons 5-0 in a Mid-American Conference baseball game Saturday at Warren E. Steller Field.

The victory, played under the lights after an afternoon start, evened the weekend series after Bowling Green’s 5-4 win on Friday. It improved Central Michigan’s overall record to 11-18, while the Falcons fell to 12-15.

The most important sequence of the game unfolded in the top of the third inning against Bowling Green starter Andrew Heffernan. After Drew Loikits doubled to right-center field, Bryson Webb laid down a bunt single. The play escalated when Heffernan’s throwing error allowed Loikits to race home from third, breaking the scoreless tie. On the very next pitch, Harrison Bowman launched a two-run home run to left field, scoring Webb and staking the Chippewas to a sudden 3-0 lead.

That outburst proved more than sufficient for Bailey. The Central Michigan starter was magnificent, tossing six no-hit innings. He walked two batters and struck out six, facing minimal threat. His only significant challenge came in the fifth when Bowling Green’s Lance Vickers doubled with two outs to put runners on second and third, but Bailey induced an inning-ending strikeout to preserve the shutout.

Central Michigan added insurance runs in the sixth and seventh innings. In the sixth, a sacrifice bunt by Brady Krzciok drove in a run. In the seventh, Webb delivered an RBI double off Falcons reliever Ethan Stade, who took over from Heffernan after three innings and allowed four runs on four hits over six frames, striking out eight.

The Chippewas’ bullpen completed the combined three-hit shutout. Max Hammond, Nate Ross and Jared Hanson each pitched a perfect inning of relief, with Hammond and Hanson each recording a strikeout. The Falcons managed just three singles—by Vinny Salvione, Vickers and Anthony Mitta—and never advanced a runner past second base after the fifth inning.

The result defied the pregame projections from Interstat, whose game simulator had forecast a 5-3 Bowling Green victory and whose ELO system gave the Falcons a 57.4% probability to win.

Bowling Green’s offense, which had produced nine runs in a midweek win at Ohio State, was completely stifled. The Falcons went 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position and left six men on base.

Central Michigan’s five runs came on just five hits, with Webb leading the way by going 2 for 4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Bowman’s two-run homer provided the decisive blow.

The teams conclude their three-game conference series Sunday afternoon. Central Michigan will look to secure the series win before returning home to face Milwaukee on Monday. Bowling Green aims to rebound before hosting Dayton on Tuesday.