OXFORD, OH - Trailing by two runs in the bottom of the seventh, Toledo's softball team rallied for its first walkoff win of the season, scoring three runs and taking a 5-4 win over Canisius Saturday morning at the Miami Invitational.

The Rockets followed by cruising to a 12-0 win over Robert Morris in their second game. UT (6-17) will conclude play at the invitational with a 2 p.m. game against Michigan State and a 4 p.m. game against Miami on Sunday.

With two on and nobody out in the seventh, sophomore Brooke Gates stepped to the plate and ripped a double to knot the score at four. The Sylvania, OH native proceeded to steal third base, forcing the Griffins to walk senior Mica Sanchez and sophomore Jillian Spink to load the bases and hope for a force out at home.

But pinch-hitter Morgan Smith delivered, as she reached on a fielder's choice as Canisius was unable to retire Gates at home, sending Toledo to the 5-4 win.

Freshman Lindsey Tobias also had a two-run single for the Rockets, who will face off with Robert Morris at 6 p.m. in the second half of their doubleheader today. Tobias and Gates both had two hits for UT.

Senior Hannah Rockhold started and went the distance, allowing eight hits and three earned runs while fanning four hitters.

In game two, the Rockets jumped out to a big lead early against the Colonials. Spink's RBI single down the right field line scored Gates in the first to give UT a 1-0 lead.

Toledo broke the game open with a six-run second. With two outs and the bases loaded, freshman Erinn Wright singled through the left side of the infield to score Kattie Palmer. Spink then followed with her first career grand slam to clear the bases.

UT tacked on another run in the third on Gates' RBI basehit, and plated four more runs in the fifth to put the game away. Sam Toy drew a bases loaded walk, Spink was hit by a pitch and Sanchez had a two-run single to put the game away.

Palmer went 3-for-3, while Gates, Wright and Spink all had two hits.

Rockhold was sublime on the mound as Toledo avenged its 6-2 setback against RMU on Friday. The Lima, OH native allowed just three hits in picking up her second win on the day and fourth of the season.

The victory margin was Toledo's largest since defeating Rutgers 18-3 on March 18, 2005.

Contact: Scott Miles
scott.miles@utoledo.edu