University of Toledo
EASTERN MICHIGAN
Toledo Defeats Eastern Michigan in Series Finale, 16-3
5/13/2007 12:00:00 PM | Baseball
Final Stats
YPSILANTI, MI - Toledo had its backs against the wall in Sunday's Mid-American Conference series finale versus Eastern Michigan at Oestrike Stadium. The Rockets had dropped the first two games in the weekend series and were facing the MAC's top team on their home field on "Senior Day." Fortunately for the Midnight Blue and Gold none of that mattered this afternoon, as UT tallied a 16-3 victory.
The Rockets pounded out 18 hits against eight EMU (26-22, 18-4 MAC) hurlers to improve to 24-24 overall and 12-12 in the MAC.
Junior Jake Swint and freshman Josh Johnson led the offensive onslaught with three hits apiece, while juniors Drew Hoisington, Nate McKeon and Scott Boley, along with sophomores Josh Colliver and Jake Oester posted two hits respectively. Eight of UT's nine starters finished with a hit in its largest margin of victory of the season.
Sophomore LHP Ryan France was outstanding in six innings of work and allowed one run on three hits to even his record at 2-2. Freshman Justin Collop came on in relief and threw the final three innings to earn his third save.
For the second-consecutive day, the Rockets opened the scoring in the top of the first inning. With one out, Swint collected the first of three hits. The Eagles tried to pickoff Swint at first base, but an errant throw allowed the Westerville, OH to move into scoring position. Two batters later, Oester laced a single through the left side and plated Swint with the game's initial tally.
UT pushed its advantage to 2-0 in the third on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Joel Visser. The rally was setup by a leadoff double by Hoisington, followed by a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt by Swint to move the Cuyahoga Falls, OH native to third. Senior Joel Visser then collected his 23rd RBI of the season with a fly ball deep enough down the leftfield line to bring home Hoisington.
The Rockets then blew the game open in the fifth with five runs on five hits to send EMU starter Sean Hoffman (6-1) to the showers. The Midnight Blue and Gold sent nine batters to the plate with big hit coming on a two-run triple by Colliver, who finished with a career-high five RBI, to establish a seven-run cushion.
In the bottom of the sixth, EMU took advantage of three walks issued by France to end the shutout and make the score 7-1.
UT quickly responded in the seventh with four insurance runs on the strength of four-consecutive singles. Colliver delivered again with a two-run single, while McKeon and Swint also tallied RBI's in the frame.
The Rockets finished off the onslaught with five more runs in the eighth to make the final score 16-3.
UT returns to action on Tuesday, May 15 against Xavier. The first pitch from Scott Park is slated for 3:00 p.m.
