University of Toledo
CINCINNATI
Toledo Defeats Big East Member Cincinnati, 7-5
3/21/2007 12:00:00 PM | Baseball
Final Stats
CINCINNATI, OH - Toledo (6-6) scored six runs in the fifth frame and claimed a 7-5 victory at Cincinnati (11-9) on Wednesday afternoon at pleasantly warm Marge Schott Stadium.
The Rockets pounded out 10 hits against six Bearcat hurlers and won back-to-back games on consecutive days for the first time this season. UT defeated Findlay, 8-1, yesterday in its home opener in a makeup contest.
Junior CF Drew Hoisington (2-for-5, 3 RBI, 2 RS), sophomore SS Jake Oester (2-for-2, RS) and freshman RF Josh Johnson (2-for-5) paced UT's offensive attack with multi-hit efforts. Seven of Toledo's nine starters collected in a hit against the Bearcats, a member of the Big East Conference.
Junior RHP Mike Ellis (1-0), the second of four UT pitchers utilized in the game, was credited with the victory in 2.2 innings of duty. Ellis, who relieved sophomore LHP starter Ryan France in the middle of the fifth inning, allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits with a strikeout.
Toledo exploded out of the gates and scored the game's first run on its first batter. Hoisington drilled the first of his two triples into the gap in right-center field and UC's relay throw to third base sailed into their dugout and allowed UT's leadoff hitter to score on the throwing error.
The Bearcats quickly responded with two runs in the bottom of the first on back-to-back solo home runs by Michael Earley and Neall French.
The home team then added to its lead in the third frame with a solo blast by Josh Harrison to make the score 3-1.
Toledo's bats would be silent until the fifth inning, before the visitors exploded with the clutch six runs on five hits to take a 7-3 lead. The Rockets sent 11 players to the plate against three UC hurlers and had the first six players reach base. The big hit in the frame was a bases-clearing triple by Hoisington. Freshman 2B Tim Krofcheck, junior LF Jake Swint and sophomore 1B Josh Colliver also tallied RBI's in the high-powered inning.
Facing a four-run deficit, Cincinnati chipped away with single runs in the fifth and seventh innings off Ellis to make the final score 7-5.
Toledo junior RHP Steve Wenning and senior RHP Joe Roberts each threw one scoreless frame of relief to preserve the road victory. Roberts was credited with his team-best third saves of the season.
The Rockets return to action on Friday, Mar. 23 to begin a three-game Mid-American series at Miami. The first pitch from McKie Field at Hayden Park is slated for 6:30 p.m.
