University of Toledo
AKRON
Toledo Gains Doubleheader Split in Conference Opener at Akron
3/22/2003 12:00:00 PM | Softball
March 22, 2003
Akron, OH - Toledo (4-11, 1-1 MAC) opened its conference season this afternoon by splitting a doubleheader at defending MAC East Division champion Akron (9-8, 1-1 MAC). The Rockets roared to an 8-5 triumph in the first game before falling in the nightcap by an 11-2 margin.
In the first game, sophomore Keri Perkins (3-4) scattered seven hits and allowed five runs over seven innings to pick up the win. UT jumped on the scoreboard first with four runs in the third inning to RBI hits from junior 3B Vicki Nelson, freshman SS Gina Muratori and sophomore 2B Kim Pettitt as well as a sacrifice fly from sophomore C Jessica Horn.
The Zips then rallied to tie the game at 4-4 with one run in the third, two in the fourth and one in the fifth.
The Rockets then broke the tie by exploding for four runs in the top of the seventh. Senior CF Jenny Schaaf led off the frame with a homer and Muratori scored UT's sixth run on a Zip error. Senior C Tiffany Edgar then put the game away with a two-run homer, the first of her collegiate career.
Perkins also started the second game but was knocked out of the contest in the second inning after allowing five runs (three earned) on five hits.
Toledo did take a 2-0 lead in the first inning on Muratori's RBI single and Horn's RBI double.
"I was very pleased with the way we came out to play in the first game," said Toledo Head Coach Jo Ann Gordon. "Keri Perkins moved her pitches around the plate and kept their good hitters off balance. In the second game, we started out strong with two runs in the first inning but then I thought we became a little complacent and it hurt us."
Toledo was perfect in the field in the first game, but committed four errors in the second game.
The Rockets will open their 2003 home campaign on Wednesday, March 26 at 2:00 p.m. vs. defending MAC champion Central Michigan.
