OXFORD, OH - Toledo split a twinbill with Miami on Saturday at McKie Field at Hayden Park. The Rockets (12-13, 3-2 MAC) posted a 7-6 victory in the opener before dropping a 5-3 decision to the RedHawks (14-12, 2-3 MAC) in the nightcap.
In the first contest, which was suspended in the top of the fourth inning due to lightning last evening, UT scored the game-winning run in the eighth on a RBI single by senior 1B Mark Lapikas.
Sophomore LHP Ryan Wilkinson (3-1) was credited with his team-tying best third win of the spring. Wilkinson was nearly perfect in 5.0 innings of relief, allowing only one hit with four strikeouts.
Freshman RHP Andrew Marra came on in relief of Wilkinson and recorded the final out to collect his team-best fourth save.
Freshman 3B Anthony Smith (4-for-5, 2 RS) paced the Midnight Blue & Gold with a career-high four hits, while senior 2B Joe Corfman (2-for-4, RS, RBI), senior CF Ben Hammer (2-for-4, RBI) and senior DH Matt Delewski (2-for-5, RS, 3 RBI) finished with multi-hit efforts in the one-run triumph.
Miami's Bryce Redeker opened the scoring with a two-run home run off UT junior RHP Mike Hamann in the first inning.
Toledo answered back with a hit parade off RedHawk starter Mac Thoreson in the second frame. The Rockets' Smith led off with a single, followed by doubles off the bats of freshman SS Dan Zuchowski, Delewski, Corfman and Hammer to take a 4-2 lead.
After sitting down Miami in order in the bottom of the second, UT added to its advantage with two runs in the third as the RedHawks struggled in the field. Thoreson threw one wild pitch, catcher John Crummy was charged with a passed ball and first baseman Kevin Bower bobbled a throw in the dirt that allowed a run to score.
The home team battled back in the bottom half of the third inning on the strength of a three-run blast by Bower and a run-scoring single by Redeker to knot the score at 6-6, before lightning sent the game into delay.
Miami's Charles Zubrod (1-2) was saddled with the loss, allowing one run on three hits with three strikeouts in 4.0 frames.
In the nightcap, the RedHawks plated a pair of runs in the eighth frame to break a 3-3 tie and secure the victory. The home team took advantage of a hit by pitch, a UT throwing error and a two-run single off the bat of Matt Honchel in the inning.
Senior RHP Tyler Scott (1-1) was tagged with the setback, giving up two unearned runs on two hits in 1.0 inning of relief.
For the second-consecutive game, Miami scored first with three runs in the third frame off UT senior RHP Matt Kuna. The big hit in the inning was a two-run single by Max Andreson.
UT fought back with an unearned run in the sixth inning and two more tallies in the seventh to draw the teams even at 3-3.
The Rockets' effort in the sixth was aided by a walk, passed ball, wild pitch and fielding error to plate their first run. The next frame, Toledo equaled the score on the strength of a RBI single by sophomore C James Miglin and a Miami wild pitch with a runner on third base.
UT's Delewski (3-for-4) continued to put up good at-bats in the second game and finished with a season-high three hits.
Miami's Brandon Atkins (3-0) earned the win in relief, working 1.1 scoreless frames.
The teams will wrap up their three-game series tomorrow at 1:00 p.m.
