San Luis Obispo, CA - Toledo will travel across the country to compete in Cal Poly's Mustang Classic this weekend in San Luis Obispo, CA. All games will be played at Bob Janssen Field.
 
The Rockets will begin the tournament on Friday, March 4 with a 12:30 p.m. game against Saint Peter's and a 5:30 p.m. matchup against host Cal Poly.
 
A day later, Toledo will rematch Saint Peter's at 10:00 a.m. and Cal Poly at 12:30 p.m.
 
UT will conclude the tournament on Sunday morning when it takes on Weber State at 10:00 a.m.

FULL TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Friday, March 4
Weber State vs. Saint Peter's, 10 a.m.
Saint Peter's vs. Toledo, 12:30 p.m.
Weber State at Cal Poly, 3 p.m.
Toledo at Cal Poly, 5:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 5
Toledo vs. Saint Peter's, 10 a.m.
Toledo at Cal Poly, 12:30 p.m.
Saint Peter's vs. Weber State, 3 p.m.
Weber State at Cal Poly, 5:30 p.m.

Sunday, March 6
Toledo vs. Weber State, 10 a.m.
St. Peter's at Cal Poly, 12:30 p.m.
 
ROCKET LEADERS
 
Senior OF Jessica Lemieux is leading Toledo offensively with a .355 batting average and 11 hits through the Rocket's 12 games; she is currently on a six-game hitting streak. Lemieux has recorded eight runs, three doubles, one triple, one home run and 19 total bases. Sophomore INF Sam Showalter is batting .344 with 11 hits, three runs, two doubles and two home runs.
 
Senior RHP Marla Gooding (2-5) leads the Rockets with a 7.33 ERA, 43.0 IP and 17 strikeouts.
 
OPPONENT BREAKDOWN
 
Cal Poly won all four games at the Libby Matson Tournament in Stockton, CA to improve its overall record to 11-4. The Mustangs defeated Purdue twice (3-2, 5-3), Cal State Bakersfield twice (3-1, 5-0) and host Pacific, 3-1. The Mustangs are currently on a six-game winning streak entering the Mustang Classic this weekend. Junior P Sierra Hyland just earned her ninth career and second-straight Big West Conference Pitcher of the Week honor, and was awarded USA Softball Collegiate National Player of the Week. Hyland posted a 0.60 ERA with 37 strikeouts during her four appearances at the Libby Matson Tournament. She currently ranks first among NCAA DI pitchers with 104 strikeouts this season.
 
Weber State is 9-7 overall after participating in the Texas Invitational this past weekend. The Wildcats defeated Abilene Christian (6-1), lost to No. 24 Texas (0-5) and Tulsa (3-5), and split a pair of games against Illinois (0-3, 10-5). Freshman JaeCie Wilson leads the Wildcats with a .410 batting average, recording 16 hits and 15 runs. Junior OF Sara Hingsberger is batting .408 with 20 hits, four home runs and three doubles.
 
Saint Peter's dropped all four games at the Amy S Harrison Classic last weekend and both games in its double header against Loyola Marymount. The Peacocks fell to San Diego twice (10-2, 11-0), North Dakota (11-1) and host UC Riverside (11-1) in the Classic. They were then bested by Loyola Marymount (8-0, 14-2) in a mid-week double header. Harley Connors leads the Peacocks with a .222 batting average, recording two hits and one home run.
 
JMU'S MACADO INVITATIONAL RECAP
 
Toledo dropped three games and won one at last weekend's Macado Invitational. The Rockets won a back-and-forth battle against Binghamton, 9-6, on Sunday in their last game of the Invite.
 
Senior P Marla Gooding (2-5) threw all seven innings and allowed four earned runs with two strikeouts to pick up the win for the Rockets vs. the Bearcats.
 
Leading the way for the Rockets offensively was senior OF Jessica Lemieuxwho went 2-for-4 with a triple, home run and a run scored. Junior Chandler Rice (3-4), sophomore Samantha Showalter (2-3) and sophomore Kaitlyn Bergman (2-2) also had multi-hit performances.
 
BUTLER SAYS:
 
"This week in practice we focused on finishing in all aspects of the game," head coach Kristen Butler said. "We practiced anything from finishing pitches, outs, at-bats, and innings, especially a strong finish in the seventh inning.
 
"Our team is ready for the warm weather and good competition in California. Some of the girls have never been to the west coast, so it will be a great trip for them and great bonding experience.
 
"Oregon State and Cal poly have had great outings so far this year and we need to come ready to play. Everyone we play will be tough so we need to be prepared going into each game.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
 
The Rockets will travel California for two spring break tournaments and a double header against UC Riverside (March 8). UT will take part in the SLO Cal Poly Mustang Classic from March 4-6 in San Luis Obispo and the Cal St. Northridge Tournament on March 10-12 in Northridge. Toledo will then make trips to Huntington, WV for a double header against Marshall and Morehead, KY for two games vs. Morehead State.