AKRON, Ohio - The Toledo softball team scored 28 runs en route to a pair of wins in a doubleheader over Akron to start its Mid-American Conference schedule. The Rockets defeated the Zips by scores of 13-5 and 15-1 on Saturday afternoon at Lee R. Jackson Field.

Junior Kaitlyn Bergman and freshman Bailey Curry each recorded five hits on the day. Bergman hit two home runs and drove in seven runs, while junior Katie Cozy doubled, triple and knocked in five on the day for the Rockets.

Toledo 13, Akron 5
Junior Katie Cozy went a perfect 3-for-3 with a pair of walks and drove in four runs to lead the Rockets. The nearby Louisville, Ohio native doubled, tripled and scored a run in UT's conference opener. 

Junior Kaitlyn Bergman was 3-for-4 with two RBIs and senior Ashley Rausch notched two singles and scored two runs in the win. Junior Heather Webb earned her ninth win of the year for allowing five runs, three earned on six hits. Webb struck out five in her 6.0 innings of work.

How it Happened

• The Rockets started fast by scoring in the top of the first inning. Freshman Kylie Norwood was hit by a pitch and stole second to get into scoring position. Cozy delivered her first RBI hit on a single to center field to put Toledo up 1-0.
• Akron took the lead in the bottom of the second when the Zips rallied for three runs. After Webb struck out the leadoff hitter, a single, a walk and a two-base throwing error plated two runs. Another Toledo error brought in the third run of the frame to give Akron a 3-1 lead.
• Both teams were quiet until the Rockets struck for four runs in the fifth. Freshman Ami Ill reached on an error and Curry singled before being lifted for senior pinch-runner Sam Showalter. Ill and Showalter were able to race around the bases when Cozy plugged the right- center field gap for a two-run triple. An Akron miscue and a passed ball allowed Cozy and senior Ashley Rausch to score, respectively, to give Toledo a 5-3 edge.
• Toledo batted around and scored seven times in the sixth to blow the game open, 12-3. The two big plays in the inning were a two-out, two-run single by Bergman and a dropped third out in center field that handed UT its final two runs of the inning.
• Akron avoided the run rule with a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth to force a seventh inning.
• Cozy capped off the game with her third run-scoring hit in the seventh. A double to center scored Ill from first and left Cozy a home run away from the cycle.

Toledo 15, Akron 1
The Rockets was clicking on all cylinders to the tune of 15 runs on 15 hits in the second game of the doubleheader. Junior Kaitlyn Bergman led the charge with a pair of home runs and five RBIs in the nightcap. 

Freshmen Kylie Norwood and Bailey Curry both recorded three hits and three RBIs, while junior Megan Choate went 2-for-2 with an RBI and three runs scored.

Junior Kailey Minarchick went 4.0 innings allowing one unearned run and striking out three.  

How it Happened

• Toledo scored four times in the top of the first and never looked back. Norwood singled to start the game, immediately stole second and scored on an RBI single by Curry. With two outs, senior Ashley Rausch singled and trotted home on Bergman's first home run of the game, a three-run blast to right.
• The Zips tried to keep pace, but could score just one unearned run on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the first.
• The Rockets continued to add on in the second. Junior Megan Choate singled, stole second and scored on a Norwood RBI single. An infield single by freshman Ami Ill and a four-pitch walk to Curry loaded the bases. Junior Katie Cozy lifted a sacrifice fly to right for the second run of the frame. Aggressive base running and an error on Akron allowed Ill to score to up the lead to 7-1.
• Freshman Ebony Garza walked to begin the UT third and scored from first on an RBI double by Choate. Curry then drove in Choate with a single to left to widen the advantage to 9-1.
• UT batted around for the second time of the day to put away the Zips in the fourth. Rausch reached on a double to right and Bergman left no doubt on a towering two-run shot to left center. Freshman Taylor Weekly and Choate each walked and both scored on a two-run triple by Norwood.
• Curry produced her third run of the game with her third RBI single to score Norwood. Freshman Brittney Davis got in on the action with an RBI triple to right that scored sophomore pinch-runner Morgan Paaverud. When the inning ended, the Rockets scored six runs on five hits to lead 15-1. 
• Minarchick took a backseat to the offensive explosion, but was dominant in the circle throughout. Sophomore Leah Allison set down three batters in the bottom of the fifth to close out the game.

The Rockets look to close out the sweep of the three-game series as the two teams finish the series tomorrow (March 25) at 1:00 p.m.