University of Toledo
Youngstown State
Rockets Open Homestand With 2-1 Win Over Penguins
3/17/2015 9:32:00 PM | Baseball
TOLEDO, OH - The Rockets gutted out a 2-1 win over the Penguins of Youngstown State on Tuesday night at Mercy Field. Toledo improves to 6-13 on the year while YSU falls to 3-8.
Freshman LHP Alex Wagner picked up the win for the Rockets, the first of his collegiate career. Wagner tossed five innings, giving up just one run on six hits with one strike out. Senior RHP Andrew Marra earned his first save of the season with a one-hit ninth-inning relief effort.
Youngstown State starter D.J. Carr was tagged with his second loss of the season, despite giving up just one earned run. The Penguins out-hit the Rockets,11-6, but YSU left nine runners on base.
Toledo fell into an early 1-0 hole as YSU sophomore Shane Willoughby tripled down the right-field line to score junior OF Frank Califano. However, the Rockets would tie the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the second inning after an RBI single to right-center from freshman INF Matt Hansen.
The Midnight Blue & Gold would take the lead just two innings later after a crucial YSU throwing error left sophomore OF Jacob Britt on base. Britt advanced to second on a wild pitch and then to third on a single from junior OF John Martillotta. Sophomore INF Josh Cales sent a fly ball to center field which was deep enough for Britt to tag home.
The Rockets nearly let the lead slip away in the bottom of the sixth inning. With runners on first and second and two outs, Josh Fitch ripped a single up the middle for the Penguins and nearly scored a runner but a clutch throw from Martilotta set up UT catcher A.J. Montoya in perfect position to block the plate and keep the one-run lead.
Toledo shut the door on YSU with a beautiful 6-4-3 double play to end the game.
The Rockets return to action on Wednesday afternoon as they host the Dayton Flyers at 1:00 p.m. at Mercy Field.
The Flyers enter tomorrow game on a five-game skid and are 5-12 on the season. Dayton is just 2-5 against members of the Mid-American Conference including three straight losses to Ball State last weekend.
Senior Alex Harris and junior Aaron Huesman lead the Flyers at the dish. Harris leads the team with 21 hits and five doubles while Huesman has driven in a team-best nine runs. Sophomore Glen Jones leads the team with three home runs in just seven games.
