Rockets win two of three
against Western Michigan
The Rockets hosted Western Michigan over the weekend, taking
two of three games in the series.
Toledo(17-19, 6-6 MAC) won the first game on Friday 7-4,
producing runs early and playing solid defense.
Freshman shortstop Nate Langhals had a career-high four hits.
Senior designated hitter Matt Delewski and junior third
baseman Wes White both contributed with multi-hit
performances.
The Broncos took an early lead coming off back-to-back doubles
from Ryan McMillin and Jack Scanlon, putting them up 2-0 in
the top of the first inning.
Western Michiganhad another chance to score in the third with
the bases loaded and one out, but sophomore starting pitcher
Ryan Wilkinson worked out of the jam with a double play to end
the inning.
The Rockets took the lead in the next half of the inning,
scoring three runs on three hits and taking advantage of three
Western Michigan errors.
Delewski produced an RBI, along with senior center fielder Ben
Hammer and sophomore catcher James Miglin, giving UT a 3-2
lead.
Toledo padded their lead in the fourth inning on an RBI single
from White and again in the fifth inning on a two-run single
from Langhals.
The Rockets sealed the game with a solid outing from senior
Lincoln Rassi who allowed only one run on three hits and four
strikeouts in the final 3.2 innings.
“Our guys out of the pen have thrown great all year,” said UT
head coach Cory Mee. “That’s really been a strength of our
team.”
Wilkinson (4-2) picked up the win while Rassi earned his first
save of the season.
It was a different story on Saturday, however, as a ninth
inning Bronco rally served Toledo a 6-5 loss.
Western Michigan scored in the second inning after a Rockets
fielding error allowed two base runners to score, giving the
Broncos a 2-0 lead.
Toledoresponded in the next half of the inning, with an RBI
groundout from freshman left fielder Anthony Smith. Smith
would strike again in the fourth inning with an RBI double,
along with a two-run double from Lapikas for a 4-2 Rocket lead
Western rallied in the ninth inning, bringing in four runs on
four hits including a two-run homer to right field from
Scanlon.
The Rockets had no answer in the bottom of the ninth, earning
a walk but later grounding into a double play for the final
two outs of the ball game.
Senior Alex Radon (0-5) was tagged with the loss, surrendering
four runs on four hits in the ninth inning.
Miglin and White paced the Rockets with three hits each while
senior second baseman Joe Corfman recorded two hits.
Toledo dominated the series finale on Sunday with a 12-7
victory.
The Rockets scored in the first inning on an RBI single from
Miglin and later on a wild pitch. Smith drove in two more runs
giving Toledo an early 4-0 advantage.
Western Michigan scored once in the second inning and again in
the third, but Miglin answered with a two-run homer in the
bottom of the fourth.
The Broncos kept fighting into the seventh inning, where
Scanlon cleared the bases on a three-run homerun to make the
score 10-7.
The Rockets tacked on two more runs in the eighth following a
solo homer from White and another wild pitch.
Senior Tyler Scott came on in relief for the final inning
where he allowed only one hit, effectively closing the door on
Western Michigan.
UT starter Mike Hamann grabbed his first win of the season,
moving his record to 1-4 on the year.
“(Mike) did exactly what we needed him to do,” Mee said. “He
pitched to win and that’s exactly what happened.”
Hammer led the charge for the Rockets, going 4-for-4 with an
RBI single and a two-run homer. Miglin and Delewski had three
hits each while Smith drove in two runs on two hits.
Toledowill host Wright State on Wednesday. First pitch is
scheduled for 3:05 p.m.