Final Stats
BOWLING GREEN, OH - Toledo (22-28, 8-18 MAC) split its Mid-American Conference doubleheader this afternoon at arch-rival Bowling Green (16-28, 8-18 MAC) in Warren Steller Field. The Rockets registered a 5-2 victory in the opener before dropping a 7-6 decision in the nightcap.
Senior Brian Kovacs (2-4) earned the victory throwing the first 5.1 innings in the opener. Kovacs allowed two runs on six hits with three strikeouts. Sophomore Kurt Woeste threw the final 1.2 innings of scoreless relief to pick-up his team-leading fourth save of the season.
The Rockets opened their scoring tallying four runs in the third off BGSU starter Keith Laughlin. Senior Jay Juras led off with a single. After freshman Dan Stong drew a walk, junior Sean Dobson attempted a sacrifice bunt to move both runners into scoring position. Dobson bunt was fielded by Laughlin, but his throw to first sailed over BGSU first basemen Kelly Hunt's head allowing Juras to score the game's initial run. Back-to-back RBI singles by senior Taylor Eckel and junior Mitch Maier followed and a RBI groundout by junior Shawn Hurst finished off the scoring.
Bowling Green cut the lead to 4-1 in the bottom of the third on a double down the leftfield line by Hunt, scoring Dash Host all the way from first.
In the sixth, Toledo added to its lead on senior J.D. Foust's third home run of the season off BGSU reliever Burke Badenhop.
Bowling Green did score a run in the sixth on a RBI single by Kevin Longstreth, but it was not enough as the Rockets captured today's first game.
In the second game, the Falcons scored two runs in the ninth off UT starter Hurst for the come-from-behind victory. BGSU's Tyler Wasserman was hit by a pitch to lead off the frame. Pinch-hitter Spencer Schmitz moved him over to second with a sacrifice bunt. The Falcon's David Barkholz doubled to drive in Wasserman and knot the score at 6-6. Jeff Warnock then delivered the game-winning hit to bring home Barkholz to earn the split.
Hurst (1-4) was tagged with loss, despite throwing a complete game. The Bryan, OH native gave up seven runs on 11 hits with three strikeouts. BGSU's Neil Schmitz (1-5), the third pitcher used by the Falcons, was credited with the win. Schmitz threw three scoreless innings to pick up his first win of the season.
Bowling Green jumped out to an early 4-0 lead on the strength of five hits, including three doubles, in its first at-bat.
Toledo cut the lead in half in the third tallying a pair of runs on three hits. Stong and Dobson led off with back-to-back singles. After Stong advanced to third on a wild pitch, BGSU starter Tyler Johnson looked to have Dobson picked off attempting to steal second, but an erratic throw allowed Dobson to take second and Stong to score UT's first run. UT tallied its other run in the frame on a RBI single by Maier.
Bowling Green scored a run in a third to make the score 5-2, before Toledo started to mount its comeback. The Rockets tallied three runs in the seventh to knot the score at 5-5. UT got things rolling on a sacrifice fly by Eckel. Back-to-back RBI singles by Foust and Pilewski followed to draw the teams even. Three walks in the frame benefited the Rockets' cause.
In the top of the ninth, Foust hit his second home run of the afternoon and his third of the season to put UT 6-5, but it was not enough as BGSU tallied a pair in its final at-bat for the come-from-behind victory.
Eight of the nine Toledo starters collected hits, including multiple hits contests from Foust (2-for-5, two RBI, run scored), Juras (2-for-3, run scored) and Stong (2-for-3, two runs scored).
The two teams will wrap up the series and their seasons tomorrow with a single game at Fifth Third Field in downtown Toledo. The first pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. The game will also be carried live on the radio on WSPD (1370 AM). Mark Beier 'The Voice of the Rockets' will call the action, with long-time Toledo Head Coach Stan Sanders providing color commentary. WSPD's coverage will start at 1:00 p.m.
