Final Stats
BOWLING GREEN, OH - Toledo (20-31) tallied three runs in the eighth inning to go ahead of Bowling Green (26-18) and held on to defeat the Falcons, 7-6, in non-conference action at Warren Steller Field. Senior CF Sean Dobson hit a go-ahead, two-run home run off BGSU reliever Neil Schmitz in the top of the eighth frame to lead the UT charge.
The Rockets' three runs in the eighth inning gave them a 7-4 lead heading into the bottom half of the frame. However, BGSU came back and plated a pair of runs in its ensuing at-bat to cut the lead to 7-6.
Neither team plated a run in the ninth, though, giving Toledo its third win in four games against its arch-rivals in 2004 and its eighth win in the last 11 contests overall.
UT secured an early lead with an unearned run in its first at-bat thanks to two Falcon errors. With senior DH Jarrod Resendez on first, classmate Aaron Rouser attempted a sacrifice bunt. Unfortunately, Rouser popped out to BGSU catcher Mike Barnard, who then tried to double-up Resendez at first on the play. Barnard's throw sailed down the rightfield line and allowed Resendez to advance all the way to third. BGSU rightfielder Nolan Reimold then attempted to throw the ball home as Resendez made a big turn at third, but his toss got away from Barnard allowing the Northwood, OH native to score the game's initial run.
BGSU bounced right back, though, with three runs in the bottom of the first inning off UT junior starter Ben Lovell. Josh Stewart had a groundout that scored Eric Lawson and a wild pitch allowed Jeff Warnock to come home. Jimmy Lipari also had a single that scored David Barkholz to give the Falcons a 3-1 lead.
The Rockets tied the score at 3-3 with two runs in the top of the second inning before the Falcons plated a run in the bottom of the second for a 4-3 edge.
UT tied the score with a run in the sixth on a RBI single by senior Chris Arvay, before plating the go-ahead runs in the eighth. The two RBI on Dobson's 10th round tripper of the season ties him with three-time first team All-MAC selection Mitch Maier for first place on UT's single season list with 61 RBI. Senior Shawn Hurst followed up the home run with a double and came around to score the game-winning run on a single by junior C Dan Ruth.
The key contributors to the Rockets' win included Rouser (2-for-5, run scored), Arvay (2-for-4, RBI, run scored) and Ruth (2-for-4, RBI, run scored).
Senior Derek Overcashier (1-2) picked up the win in relief with classmate Raul Lopez earning the save. Overcashier threw 2.1 innings, allowing two runs on three hits to earn his first collegiate win.
Schmitz (3-4) suffered the loss, giving up three runs on four hits while not recording an out in the eighth inning.
Toledo returns to action this weekend, May 21-23, to wrap-up its regular season at Northern Illinois. Friday's first pitch from Ralph McKinzie Field in DeKalb, IL is slated for 3:00 p.m.
