MOUNT PLEASANT, MI - Toledo fell behind early and could not recover, suffering a 7-3 loss to Central Michigan on Saturday in Mid-American Conference action at Theunissen Stadium. With the setback, UT falls to 12-18 overall and 3-5 in league play.

The Chippewas (14-17, 5-3 MAC) scored a pair of runs in their initial at-bat to assume an advantage they would not relinquish and win the first two games in the weekend series. CMU notched a 7-2 triumph in yesterday's series opener.

For the second consecutive contest, UT was its own worst enemy, giving up runs on wild pitches, errors, walks and hit by pitches with runners to third base.

UT senior RHP Matt Kuna (3-1) was saddled with the loss, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits with five strikeouts to sustain his first loss of the spring.

Senior CF Ben Hammer (2-for-4, 2 RBI) and senior 2B Joe Corfman (2-for-3) paced the Midnight Blue & Gold offensively with two hits each, but it proved to not be enough as they suffered their sixth consecutive setback.

CMU utilized a run-scoring ground out off the bat of Sam Russell and also benefitted from a wild pitch by Kuna with a runner on third to take the early 2-0 lead.

The score remained the same until the fifth inning when Toledo freshman SS Dan Zuchowski was credited with a RBI single to cut the margin to 2-1.

Unfortunately for the Rockets, they would not get any closer as the Chippewas retaliated with an unearned tally in the sixth frame with the aid of UT error.

Central Michigan then added a pair of runs in the seventh inning on the strength of a RBI's from Jordan Dean and Russell to build a four-run cushion, 5-1.

Toledo was a resilient bunch and received a two-run single from Hammer in the top of the eighth inning, but CMU countered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame to make the final score, 7-3. The two-time reigning MAC West Division champs received a sacrifice fly by Nick Regnier and a bases loaded walk from Tyler Hall to close out the home victory.

CMU's Patrick Kaminska (2-1) was awarded with the victory, surrendering three runs (two earned) on five hits with three punchouts in 1.2 innings.

Regnier (3-for-4, 2 RS, RBI) led the victors with a game-high three hits, followed by William Arnold (2-for-4), Dean (2-for-5, RBI) and Hall (2-for-4, 2 RS, RBI) with multi-hit efforts.

Toledo and Central Michigan will wrap up the weekend series tomorrow with a 1:05 p.m. first pitch. Junior RHP Mike Hamann is slated to toe the rubber for the Rockets and help them avoid the weekend sweep.  

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