Final Stats

TOLEDO, OH - Toledo (18-23, 4-14 MAC) rallied for a 6-5 triumph in the nightcap to gain a split in its doubleheader this afternoon with Ball State (30-14, 11-7) after falling by a 3-1 margin in the opener at Scott Park.

Junior Sean Hurst (1-2) notched his first victory of the season in the second game, allowing five runs and 13 hits in a complete-game effort. BSU reliever Kory Bucklew (1-2) took the loss for Ball State allowing one run and two hits in two innings.

As was the case in the first game, BSU jumped out to a 3-0 lead after its first at-bat on the strength of five hits, including RBI's from Marc Franz, Kyle Dygert and Brad Miller.

Toledo scored two runs in the bottom of the half inning on a RBI double by senior J.D. Foust and a double steal of second and home by junior Aaron Rouser and Foust to pull within one, 3-2.

BSU increased its lead to 5-2 after four-and-a-half innings on a home run by Adam Metzler and a run in the fifth, before the Rockets started to mount their rally.

A fielding error by BSU third basemen Franz, off the bat of UT junior Mitch Maier, cut the lead to 5-3 in the fifth. UT then tied the score at 5-5 in the sixth on a bases-loaded RBI single by freshman Dan Stong and a RBI on a fielders choice by junior Sean Dobson.

Toledo finished off the rally in the seventh scoring the eventual game-winner on a sacrifice fly to center by senior Phil Pilewski. Maier led off the frame with a single and advanced to third on a perfectly executed bunt by Rouser down the third-base line. Both the BSU pitcher, Bucklew, and the third basemen, Franz, converged on the Rouser bunt leaving third base unoccupied. Seeing the opportunity, Maier used his speed and advanced to third. He then came home with the game-winner on the sacrifice fly by Pilewski.

Rouser led the Rockets offensively in the second game with four hits.

In the first game, Brian Lynch (6-3) scattered six hits as BSU posted a 3-1 victory. Sophomore J.R Duffey (3-2) allowed three and four hits in seven innings to take the loss for UT.

The Rockets scored their only run in the seventh on an infield single by Foust, scoring Dobson, who led off the frame with a walk. Dobson stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. The Rockets put runners on first and second in the frame, but Lynch got pinch-hitter Rouser to ground out to end the game.

Ball State jumped all over Duffey in the opening inning scoring their three runs on just one hit. Two walks in the fame, a hit by pitch and a RBI single by Miller gave BSU all the offense it would need.

Toledo returns to action tomorrow, Sunday, May 4 as the Rockets will wrap up their four-game series with Ball State with a doubleheader starting at 1:00 p.m.