University of Toledo
IPFW
Toledo Prevails vs. IPFW in Extra Innings, 3-2
4/25/2006 12:00:00 PM | Baseball
Final Stats
TOLEDO, OH - Toledo (20-17) scored the winning run on a wild pitch in the 12th inning on Tuesday to claim a 3-2 victory over IPFW (16-20) at chilly Scott Park.
Reigning junior MAC West Division Player of the Week Ryan Laude and senior Dan Stong began the 12th frame with back-to-back singles off Mastodons reliever Adam Gibson (2-2). After a failed sacrifice bunt attempt by the Rockets, senior Nick Lance reached first base on an IPFW fielding error with one out and brought freshman reserve Tom Stevison to the plate. Gibson and the Mastodons looked like they were trying to jam Stevison inside, but his first offering was low and outside to the right-handed batter and the ball squirted past catcher Brent Doty to plate Stong with the game-winning run.
Freshman RHP Jeff Cinadr (1-0), the fifth UT hurler used on the afternoon, was credited with his first-collegiate victory in two scoreless innings of work. The Rockets also received an outstanding start from freshman LHP Ryan France, who threw six shutout frames with two strikeouts. France, who was making his first collegiate start, faced only 23 batters in his six innings of work and allowed only three hits. His previous long outing for the season was 3.2 innings vs. Wayne State back on April 11.
The Rockets pounded out 14 hits in the contest with seniors Jason Watson and Lance, along with sophomore Drew Hoisington leading the way with three hits apiece. Also collecting a multi-hit contest was Stong, who finished the game with a pair of singles.
After a scoreless three-and-a-half innings, Toledo struck first on a RBI single into right-center by Lance. With one out in the fourth, freshman Josh Colliver advanced all to way to second base on a throwing error by IPFW second basemen Brent Alwine. Colliver was moved to third on a groundout and scored the game's initial run on Lance's second hit of the game and his ninth run-batted in of the season.
The home team then doubled their lead in the fifth frame on a RBI double down the leftfield line by Watson. Hoisington began the rally with a bunt single, and after a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt by sophomore Jake Swint to move him into scoring position, Watson laced a two-base hit past a diving IPFW third basemen Tyler Fowler to make the score 2-0.
IPFW stayed within striking distance and finally broke through with its first run in the top of the seventh frame off UT freshman reliever Dan Gatins. The Mastodons' Doty began the inning with a walk and moved into scoring position on a groundout. Gatins forced the next IPFW hitter to also groundout, before Zach Walton laid down a bunt single along the third-base line. Toledo sophomore third basemen Scott Boley charged on the play and made a barehanded attempt to try and erase Walton at first base, but the speedy runner beat the throw, and at the same time, the ball got away from UT's Colliver and allowed Doty to score.
The Mastodons continued to press the action in the eighth and actually had a great opportunity to take the lead. They drew a lead-off walk for the third-consecutive inning and Sean Kirk followed with a double off the wall in left field. IPFW's Caleb Smith tried to score all the way from first base on the play, but UT's relay throw from Swint, to cutoff man Watson, to home plate was perfect and kept the score at 2-1. Unfortunately, UT' lead did not last much longer, as the next IPFW hitter recorded an infield single to put runners on first and third base, before Fowler knotted the score at 2-2 with a RBI groundout.
IPFW had a chance to win the game in the ninth frame, when Alwine doubled off UT junior closer Joe Roberts and Chris Venverloh followed with a bunt single to put runners at the corners. The Mastodons then attempted a suicide squeeze play with Walton at bat, but his bunt attempt bounced right to Roberts, and the Rockets were able to erase Alwine at home plate and keep the score tied.
The Rockets also had their chances late, when Hoisington began the ninth frame with a single through the leftside against IPFW reliever Tyler Johnson. Swint advanced his teammate into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt and Watson was intentionally walked to put two runners on base, but the Mastodons' Gibson came on and promptly retired the next two batters to send the game into extra innings for the second-time this season, before UT's dramatic 12th-inning rally.
The Rockets return to action tomorrow when they travel to East Lansing, MI to battle Michigan State at 3:00 p.m.
