University of Toledo
Kent State
Toledo Falls to Kent State in MAC Opener, 3-1
3/25/2005 12:00:00 PM | Baseball
TOLEDO, OH - Toledo (5-12, 0-1 MAC) suffered a 3-1 setback to Kent State (12-7, 1-0 MAC) on Friday afternoon in its Mid-American Conference home opener at chilly Scott Park.
Senior RHP Nick Szczur (2-2) was the hard-luck loser for the Rockets, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits with four strikeouts in eight innings of action.
Senior C Dan Ruth (2-for-4), junior 3B Dan Stong (2-for-4) and freshman LF Jake Swint (2-for-4) led UT with two hits a piece. The trio combined for six of Toledo's seven hits in the contest.
KSU's Jason Brunke (2-1) was credited with the win, yielding one run on six hits with three strikeouts in 6.2 innings. Chad Wagler threw the final 2.1 innings of scoreless relief to pick up his first save of the season.
Kent State opened the scoring in the third inning with a pair of runs. Erik Holick led off the frame with a bunt single. Emmanuel Burris then attempted a sacrifice bunt, but the ball was mishandled by Szczur, putting runners on first and second with no hits. After a sacrifice bunt by Joe Tucker put two runners in scoring position, KSU's Andrew Davis drove both in with a two-run single into the gap in right-center.
The Golden Flashes increased their lead to 3-0 in the sixth inning on a RBI single up the middle by Drew Saylor.
The Rockets finally broke through with a run in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by junior SS Jason Watson. Freshman CF Drew Hoisington led off the frame with a walk. With Swint at the plate, Brunke balked to move Hoisington into scoring position. Swint then laced a single through the left side to put runners at the corners with no outs. Watson delivered with a fly ball to right field deep enough to score Hoisington and drive in team-leading 13th RBI.
Unfortunately, the one run would be all the Rockets could muster.
KSU looked to increase its lead in the seventh inning as it had the bases loaded and Tucker laced a ball into the gap in right-center. But UT sophomore RF Joel Visser came out of no where to make a diving catch and keep the score 3-1.
The two teams will continue their three-game series tomorrow at Scott Park at 1:00 p.m.
