CINCINNATI, OH - Toledo could not take advantage of an outstanding pitching performance from junior RHP Mike Hamann and suffered a tough 1-0 loss at Xavier in Friday's series opener at Hayden Field. With the setback, the Rockets fall to 6-10 on the season.

Hamann (0-3) yielded the one run on only four hits with a season-high seven punchouts in a season-tying best 7.0 innings.

The Musketeers' (5-11) scored the game's lone run in the third frame on a RBI single off the bat of Daniel Rod. XU's effort to plate the game-winning tally was aided by a pair of UT errors.

XU's Vinny Nittoli (2-3) was credited with the victory, allowing only three hits with four strikeouts over the opening 6.0 innings.

The home team's Alex Westrick, Alex Vice and Seth Willoughby then came on in relief of Nittoli and worked one inning each of hitless baseball to preserve the shutout victory. Willoughby fanned two of the three batters he faced in the ninth frame to collect his fourth save of the season.

Toledo senior CF Ben Hammer, senior 1B Mark Lapikas and freshman 3B Alex Smith collected the hits for the visitors, who was blanked for the second time this season.

The Rockets and Musketeers will continue their three-game series tomorrow beginning at 1:00 p.m.

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