Ludwig and Searle Named Scholar-Athletes of the Week
Female Scholar Athlete of the Week: February 5th – February 12th
Bowling Green's Aspen Searle, Softball (Senior, Psychology/Minor: Human Development and Family Studies, 3.700)
Bowling Green senior shortstop Aspen Searle hit an eye-popping .647 last weekend, going 11-for-17 in five games – all wins – at the Cleveland State Dome Invitational. Searle led the Falcons in batting average and hits, as well as runs scored (10), slugging percentage (1.059) and on-base pct. (.700).
Searle had two four-hit games on the weekend, and had at least one hit in all five games. She had four extra-base hits and no strikeouts on the weekend. Searle had a double and scored two of BG’s four runs in the season-opening win over Niagara on Friday afternoon. Then, that evening, she went 4-for-4 at the plate against host Cleveland State with another double, two more runs scored and an RBI. On Saturday, Searle had an RBI triple and scored a run in a shutout win over Niagara, then had a hit, two walks and two runs in another shutout, this time against Canisius.
She capped her stellar weekend with her second four-hit contest in five games, going 4-for-4 vs. Robert Morris. Her two-run homer in the top of the first inning gave BGSU a 3-0 lead after just three batters, and the Falcons were well on their way to an 8-1 win. Searle reached base five times, with the homer, three singles, a hit-by-pitch, three runs scored and two RBI. The homer was the 20th of Searle’s career. She ranks sixth in school history in that category, and is rapidly moving up many of BGSU’s career lists. The Falcons’ 5-0 start to the season is the program’s best in 12 years.
Male Scholar Athlete of the Week: February 5th – February 12th
Akron's Matt Ludwig, Track & Field (Junior, Biomedical Engineering, 3.868)
Entering the men's pole vault invitational as the second-rated vaulter in the country and going against top-rated Chris Nilsen of South Dakota at the Tyson Invitaional, Matt Ludwig was the top collegiate finisher in the event placing second eclipsing 18-5.50 (5.63m). Mondo Duplantis, the world junior record holder, won the event surpassing 18-9.50 (5.73m).
Ludwig cleared his opening bar at 17-2.75 (5.25m) before needing two attempts to better marks at 17-9 (5.41m) and 18-1.75 (5.53m), respectively. After failing to surpass 18-3.75 (5.58m) on each of his first two attempts, Ludwig passed on the height. The risk was rewarded as Ludwig eclipsed 18-5.50 (5.63m) on his initial run at the height. He was unsuccessful in his three attempts at 18-9.50 (5.73m), while Duplantis cleared the bar on his third and final try.
