University of Toledo
Siena Heights
Toledo Registers 11-4 Win over Siena Heights
4/16/2003 12:00:00 PM | Baseball
TOLEDO, OH - The University of Toledo (11-16) utilized balanced production from both its hitters and pitchers to record an 11-4 triumph over Siena Heights (14-28-2) this afternoon in non-conference action at Scott Park.
Seven Rocket hitters registered at least one hit and four pitchers appeared in the contest for the Midnight Blue and Gold, which improved to 7-0 this season at home.
"This is another good win for our ballclub," Toledo skipper Joe Kruzel said. "I'm very pleased with this team. We put the ball in play today and when we got guys in scoring position we took advantage of our opportunities."
Siena Heights did though jump out to a 3-0 lead after a half inning against UT freshman starter RHP Michael Wagner. The first four Saints reached base on hits, before Wagner found his groove on the mound. When the Cincinnati, OH native finally settled down, he was almost untouchable yielding just one other hit to pick up his second collegiate victory in a planned rotation. Wagner (2-0) worked three innings, allowing the three runs on five hits with a strikeout.
After a scoreless bottom of the first frame, Toledo cut the deficit to 3-2 tallying a pair of runs in the second on an RBI by senior Jay Juras and the benefit of a Saints error.
UT tied the game at 3-3 in the third on an RBI double by senior Taylor Eckel, scoring junior Sean Dobson, who also reached base with a double. Then junior Mitch Maier drove in Eckel with a base hit and the Rockets never looked back. Later in the frame, senior J. D. Foust tripled down the left field line and was later driven home on another Siena Heights error to make the score 5-3.
Toledo upped its lead to 7-3 in the fifth when Eckel came home on a wild pitch and Juras belted a single to bring home Foust. Sophomore Matt Ruth then singled to plate Juras to make the score 8-3.
The Rockets finished off their scoring in the sixth tallying three insurance runs to make the final, 11-4. Senior Phil Philweski and Juras were both hit by pitches with the bases loaded to drive in runs and sophomore Dan Ruth had an RBI groundout.
Eckel led the way with a 4-for-4 outing, his second four-hit outing in as many games. In his last three games, the team-captain and Toledo native is hitting .769 (10-for-13).
"I give Taylor a lot of credit," Kruzel said. "He has been putting in a lot of extra time as of late making adjustments. And now he has taken those adjustments and put them into play in a positive way."
Other key contributors to the Rocket attack were Foust (3-for-4, four runs scored) and Juras (2-for-3, three RBI, run scored).
The Rockets return to action on Friday, April 18, when they begin a four-game series with Central Michigan at Scott Park. Game time is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
