Toledo Loses to Miami in MAC-Series Finale, 4-1

Sunday, March 31

Toledo, OH

1:05 PM

University of Toledo

Miami

3/31/2013 8:25:00 PM | Baseball

TOLEDO, OH – Toledo allowed four runs in the first inning and suffered a 4-1 loss to Miami on Easter Sunday in Mid-American Conference action at soggy Mercy Field. With the setback, the Rockets fall to 10-4 overall, 3-3 in the conference.

UT junior LHP Ryan Wilkinson (2-2) was the hard-luck loser in today's series finale, allowing four runs (one earned) on five hits with two strikeouts in 8.0 frames. Wilkinson settled down following a rough start and retired 21 of the next 25 batters, but it was too little too late for the lefty hurler and the 2012 MAC West Division champs.

The RedHawks' (12-11, 5-1 MAC) Nathan Williams (3-1) limited Toledo to a season-low four hits to post the complete-game victory. Williams went for the distance for the first time this season to earn his team-tying best third win. The right-handed pitcher got better as the contest went on, as he sat down the final 14 UT batters.

Offensively, senior CF Ben Hammer (2-for-4, RBI) collected two of Toledo's four hits in the cross-division matchup, while senior LF Tyler Grogg (1-for-4) and senior DH Matt Delewski (1-for-4, RS) collected the other two hits.

For a second-straight game, Miami scored four runs in its opening at-bat. The visitors took advantage of three UT errors and received a clutch two-run single off the bat of Nate Bowles to assume a lead they would not surrender. Three of the four runs in the inning came as a result of Toledo miscues and were unearned.

The Rockets retaliated with their lone run in the third on a RBI double off the bat of Hammer. After the first two outs were recorded in the frame, Delewski belted a triple to the gap in right-center field before Hammer followed with a two-base hit to collect his 15^th RBI of the spring.

The RedHawks' Bowles (2-for-4, RS, 2 RBI) and Matt Honchel (2-for-4, RS) led the visitors with two hits each.

The Rockets return to action on Tuesday, April 2 when they host Kent State in non-league action at Scott Park. The first pitch from the corner of Parkside Blvd. and Hill Ave. is slated for 3:05 p.m.