University of Toledo
OAKLAND
Toledo Outslugs Oakland in Non-Conference Action, 9-4
3/27/2007 12:00:00 PM | Baseball
Final Stats
TOLEDO, OH - Toledo (7-9) blasted a season-high four home runs en route to a 9-4 victory over Oakland (6-15) on Tuesday afternoon at sunny Scott Park.
The Rockets finished with seven extra-base hits off five OU pitchers and seven starters collected a hit, with three notching multi-hit efforts.
Juniors Drew Hoisington (2-for-4, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 3 runs scored), Jake Swint (2-for-5) and Nate McKeon (2-for-4 led the offensive slugfest for the Midnight Blue and Gold with two hits apiece.
The Rockets also utilized three pitchers with senior Todd Thomas (3-2) picking up the victory in a quality start. Thomas went the first six innings and allowed four runs on seven hits with a strikeout.
The home team exploded out of the gates for three runs on three hits in its opening at-bat, including a pair of solo blasts by freshman RF Josh Johnson and Hoisington, to take an early three-run cushion.
The Rockets added to their lead an inning later when Hoisington, who leads the team with four round trippers, launched a two-run blast over the fence in right-center to make the score 5-0.
Oakland started to chip away at the deficit with a run in the fourth frame on the first of two home runs by Kevin Carkeek and added another tally a frame later on a RBI single by Dan Ryan to cut the margin to 5-2.
UT was quick to retaliate in the bottom of the fifth when senior Ryan Laude belted a three-run home run to left field.
The Golden Grizzlies refused to go quietly in the sixth inning and Carkeek's second home run of the game, a two-run shot, made the score 8-4.
Fortunately for Toledo, Oakland would get no closer as freshmen Justin Collop and Jacob Bernath delivered three innings of perfect relief baseball to wrap up the victory for the Midnight Blue and Gold.
Offensively, UT was able to muster up an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning to again make it a five-run difference. The Rockets were aided in the frame by two walks and an Oakland error.
OU's Bill Schmieder (1-3) was credited with the loss, allowing six runs on seven hits with three strikeouts in four innings of work.
The Rockets return to action tomorrow when they travel to Columbus, OH to battle Ohio State. The first pitch from Bill Davis Stadium is slated for 2:00 p.m. The gate proceeds for tomorrow's contest will go to two funds established for the Bluffton University baseball team.
