University of Toledo
NOTRE DAME
Toledo Falls at Notre Dame, 8-7
4/17/2007 12:00:00 PM | Baseball
Final Stats
SOUTH BEND, IN - Notre Dame scored a run in the bottom of the ninth inning and claimed an 8-7 victory over Toledo on Tuesday night at Frank Eck Stadium. With the loss, the Rockets fall to 16-14 on the season.
The Fighting Irish (18-17), who trailed 5-0 after five innings, received a leadoff double from Jeremy Barnes off UT senior closer Joe Roberts (1-1) to put the game-winning run in scoring position. Barnes was then moved to third base on a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt off the bat of Ryan Smith, before a Roberts' wild pitch plated the game winner.
Unfortunately for the Rockets, they were unable to take advantage of a quality start from senior Todd Thomas, who allowed two unearned runs on seven hits with three strikeouts over six innings.
Toledo opened the scoring in the third inning on a three-run home run by junior Drew Hoisington, who finished 3-for-5 with three runs scored. The visitors collected three hits in the frame off Notre Dame starting pitcher Brett Graffy to take the early lead. Sophomore Jake Oester started the rally with a walk and junior Nate McKeon followed with a single to bring UT's home-run leader to the plate. With a two-and-two count at the plate, Hoisington belted his eighth blast of the season down the leftfield line.
The Fighting Irish, who have won 15 straight against the Rockets, tried to cut into their deficit in the bottom of the third, as three-consecutive batters reached base. With two outs and runners on first and second, UND's Ross Brezovsky singled up the middle and the runner on second tried to score, but Hoisington's home to the plate was on target to record the final out and keep the score at 3-0.
The Rockets pushed their lead to 5-0 in the fifth frame on a two-run double off the bat of senior Joel Visser. The first two UT batters reached base on a single and a walk, before Visser laced his team-best 10th two-base hit down the leftfield line.
Notre Dame threatened again in the bottom of the fifth and had the bases loaded with two outs, but Thomas forced a ground out to end threat and keep the home team off the scoreboard.
One frame later, UND finally solved Thomas and tallied two runs on the strength of two hits and a two-base UT throwing error to make the score 5-2. The Fighting Irish's Barnes and Smith each tallied a RBI to make it a three-run game.
The Fighting Irish continued their comeback in the seventh inning and collected four-straight singles off UT junior reliever Chris Fields to tally two runs and make it a one-run contest. Fields was unable to record an out in the frame and was pulled in favor of sophomore Jeff Cinadr, who pitched out of the jam and kept the lead for the Midnight Blue and Gold. Cinadr and the Rockets' effort was also aided by a spectacular diving over-the-shoulder catch by junior Jake Swint with two outs and the game-tying run on third base.
Notre Dame's comeback was complete in the eighth with three runs off Cinadr. The home team sent eight batters to the plate against three UT hurlers and captured its first lead of the contest on a bases-loaded walk. The Rockets were again their own worst enemy in the inning and a costly throwing error resulted in two of the three runs being unearned.
Toledo did not go down without a fight in the bottom of the ninth, though, and tied the score at 7-7 with two big runs. Hoisington ripped a single through the left side with one out, before Swint reached base on a UND infield error to put two runners on base. A pair of wild pitches from UND closer and eventual game-winner Jess Stewart (2-1) followed to score Hoisington and advance Swint to third base. Junior Scott Boley then hit a double down the leftfield line to plate the game-tying tally.
Notre Dame finished the contest with 14 hits and six different players finished with a pair of hits.
The Rockets return to action tomorrow when they battle arch-rival Bowling Green in a non-conference tilt. The first pitch from Steller Field is slated for 3:00 p.m. This past weekend in a three-game MAC series at Scott Park, UT won the final two contests against the Falcons and captured the series for only the second time in the last nine seasons.
