University of Toledo
OHIO
Toledo Tames Ohio in 13 Innings, 9-6
3/30/2007 12:00:00 PM | Baseball
Final Stats
ATHENS, OH - Junior Scott Boley belted a pair of home runs, including a three-run blast in the top of the 13th inning, to help Toledo claim a 9-6 victory over Ohio (9-12, 0-4 MAC) on Friday evening in the Mid-American Conference series opener at Bob Wren Stadium. The extra-inning contest was the first for the Rockets this season, who improved to 8-10 overall and 1-3 in the league.
Scott Boley, who tied his career high with five RBI, and freshman Tim Krofcheck led the Rockets' offensive attack with three hits, while senior Ryan Laude, juniors Sean Boley and Jake Swint and freshman Josh Johnson each collected two hits.
Toledo exploded out of the gates and scored three runs in the top of the first frame. The Rockets pounded out four hits, including a two-run round tripper to centerfield by Scott Boley, and were aided by a pair of Bobcat errors to take an early three-run cushion.
The Rockets added to their advantage an inning later on a RBI single through the left side by Krofcheck to make the score 4-0. Sophomore Jake Oester started the frame with a single and advanced into scoring position on a stolen base. The Cincinnati, OH then came around to score on Krofcheck's third RBI of the season.
Facing a four-run deficit, Ohio collected three hits in the third inning, including back-to-back RBI's from Brandon Besl and Jon Vondrell off UT junior Kyle Rawlings, to cut the score in half, 4-2.
The following frame both team exchanged runs with a solo blast by UT's Sean Boley, while the Bobcats countered with a run-scoring triple off the bat of Chris Klimko to make the score 5-3.
Toledo added to its lead in the seventh inning plating a run on the strength of a single by Johnson, which extended his hitting streak to a team-best 12 games, and a double by Laude. The visitors were able to double up the Bobcats following a wild pitch from Ohio reliever Kevin Mementowski to bring Johnson home with UT's sixth run of the contest.
Unfortunately for the Rockets, the lead did not hold up. The Bobcats hit a pair of home runs in the eighth to both end the evening for junior Kyle Rawlings and knot the score at 6-6. Ohio's Jared Willis began the frame with a solo blast, followed by a single by Besl to knock the UT starter out of the contest. Junior RHP Chris Fields came on in relief of Rawlings and immediately recorded an out, before the Bobcats' Marc Krauss belted a two-run home run to draw the teams even.
Toledo was presented a golden opportunity to take the lead in the top of the 10th inning. The visitors had the bases loaded with two outs and today's top hitter Krofcheck at the plate, but the freshman went down on strikes to keep the score tied.
The Bobcats also had a chance to seize the victory in the bottom of the 10th inning, getting a pair of runners in scoring position with two outs. UT senior Joe Roberts was able to buckle down and force a groundout to end the rally and force another frame.
In the bottom of the 12th inning, Ohio had another quality opportunity to win. Besl reached base on a fielding error to get things started off UT senior Todd Thomas and a pair of walks to Krauss and Willie Walker loaded the bases. Fortunately for the Midnight Blue and Gold, Thomas forced Ohio pinch hitter J.T. Osburn to foul out and the contest moved into its four hour.
UT junior Drew Hoisington began the 13th frame with a one-out walk. Johnson also drew a free pass to put two runners on base, before Boley's dramatic line-drive home run over the left-field fence on a three-two pitch claimed the victory for the visitors.
Thomas, the fourth of five hurlers utilized by the Rockets this evening, was credited with the victory. He threw two scoreless innings to pick up his team-leading fourth victory of the season. Freshman Justin Collop came on and pitched a perfect last frame to collect his first collegiate save.
The two teams will continue their three-game tomorrow beginning at 6:00 p.m.
