NASHVILLE, TN - The Rockets suffered a trio of setbacks in their opening weekend slate in Nashville, TN. Toledo fell in their opening day game to Wright State on Friday before dropping a pair of games on Saturday.
After dropping an 8-1 decision on Friday night to the Raiders, Toledo looked for a bit of revenge on Saturday morning with another battle against WSU.
The Midnight Blue & Gold jumped out to an early 2-1 lead after a home run from junior John Martillotta in the top of the second inning. Fellow junior Ryan Callahan extended the UT lead in the top of the seventh with his first homer of the year.
However, the Raiders tagged the Toledo bullpen with a combined six runs in the bottom of the seventh and eighth innings to escape with a 7-4 victory.
Senior reliever Adam Tyson was at saddled with the loss, giving up two earned runs in just 0.2 innings of work. Toledo starter Steven Calhoun struck out seven batters in 6.2 innings. The sophomore lefty gave up three runs, two earned, on six hits in his first start of the season.
Callahan finished 3-for-4 at the dish with his dinger in the seventh while Martillotta led the way with his two RBI.
With the bitter taste of defeat freshly engraved, Toledo turned its attention to game two of the day against the Belmont Bruins. Unfortunately for the Rockets, the result would be the same.
The Bruins jumped out to a quick 5-2 lead after the first two innings and never took their foot off the gas. Toledo did its best to keep pace and cut the deficit to just one-run heading into the bottom of the fourth, following an RBI double from freshman Matt Hansen, but Belmont would not be denied. BU tallied 10 runs in the final three innings in the 18-5 win over the Rockets.
Junior Caleb Schillace was tagged with the loss, giving up five runs, just one earned, in his 2.2 innings of work.
Hansen and fellow freshman A.J. Montoya each tallied a pair of RBI but despite their efforts the Rockets ended the weekend without finding the win column.
The Midnight Blue & Gold will return to action next Friday as they hit the road to Rock Hill, SC with a weekend slate against Winthrop. First pitch for Friday's game is slated for 4:00 p.m.
