University of Toledo
IPFW
Toledo Hammers Out 10-2 Win Over IPFW in Non-Conference Action
4/22/2003 12:00:00 PM | Baseball
TOLEDO, OH - Junior RHP Raul Lopez had himself a quality start and Toledo banged out 18 hits in helping the Rockets to a 10-2 victory over IPFW in non-conference action at chilly Scott Park Tuesday afternoon.
With the victory, Toledo improves to 13-19 on the season, while the setback drops IPFW to 16-23-1. Today's win also marks the 250th in the career of Head Coach Joe Kruzel.
Lopez (3-0) struck out seven and did not yield a walk in 6.0 innings, while allowing just two runs on seven hits against the Mastodons. The three wins ties Lopez with teammates Ben Lovell and J.R. Duffey for the team-lead in victories.
"This was a good win for this team," Kruzel said. "Like I've said since day one, I like this team and its makeup. They do a lot of things extremely well, and we don't let frustration set in. They came out here today and pounded out 13 hits on a pitcher (Jason Horvath), who is projected to be drafted high this June. That is pretty good."
Frustration could have easily set in for the Midnight Blue and Gold in the top half of the first as IPFW came out swinging. The Mastodons jumped out to 2-0 lead on a two-run single by Mark Simanski off Lopez. The Lorain, OH native did not become rattled, though, and settled down and yielded only four singles in his last five innings of work.
In its first at-bat, Toledo sent 13 batters to the plate and put eighth runs on the board on nine hits off Horvath (4-5). Highlighting the offensive outburst for UT were two-run singles by senior 2B Taylor Eckel and junior LF Aaron Rouser.
"If there are 10 runs scored in an inning and we have eight of them, I will take that anyday of the week," Kruzel said. "Lately, it seems that we've been on the other end of those big innings. What impressed me was after they scored their two runs, Raul worked himself out of a jam without any further damage. I think that gave us life and then we got two outs and scored seven runs with two outs."
Toledo finished off its scoring plating single runs in the seventh and the eighth innings, including Rouser's second home run of the season to make the final, 10-2.
Rouser (3-for-5, three RBI, three runs scored), junior CF Sean Dobson (3-for-5, two runs scored) and sophomore DH Dan Ruth (3-for-3, run scored) led the Rockets' attack, while senior Phil Pilewski (2-for-5, run scored), junior Mitch Maier (2-for-5, RBI) and junior SS Chris Arvay (2-for-5, run scored, RBI) chipped in with multiple-hit contests.
The Rockets return to action tomorrow, Wednesday, April 23 when they travel to Youngstown to battle the Penguins in non-conference action. Game time at Cafaro Field is slated for 3:00 p.m.
