University of Toledo
Buffalo
Rockets Split Friday Doubleheader Against Buffalo
4/24/2015 11:31:00 AM | Softball
Toledo dropped game one 2-1, but came back to win game two 4-3 in eight innings.
TOLEDO, OH - The Toledo softball team split its doubleheader against Buffalo on Friday at Scott Park, losing game one 2-1, but bouncing back in the second game with a 4-3 win in eight innings.
It was the Rockets' fifth-consecutive conference series split, as they move to 20-28 overall and 5-11 in league play.
The Midnight Blue & Gold struck first in game one, as senior IF Allissa Turkovich scored on a throwing error by the short stop in the bottom of the second inning.
Toledo was held scoreless the rest of the way, as Buffalo tied the game in the top of the third, then scored the game winning run in the fifth.
Both teams recorded eight hits in the game, and the Rockets were led by sophomore OF Celeste Fidge, who went 2-for-3 with double. Fellow sophomore IF Chandler Rice and graduate transfer SS Nichole Toven both tallied doubles as well, going 1-for-4 and 1-for-3, respectively.
UT threatened in the bottom half of the seventh, when a senior OF Alyssa Smith led off the inning with a single to right centerfield, and Rice followed with a double to right field. Toven stepped to the plate and smashed a liner right at the UB third baseman, who caught the ball and tagged out Smith at third for a double play. A lineout by junior OF Jessica Lemieux ended the game.
Junior P Emily Anderson had a strong game in the circle, pitching all 7.0 innings, while allowing two earned runs off eight hits and six strikeouts.
In game two, the Rockets won in spectacular fashion, tying the game up with two runs in the bottom of the seventh, then winning on a walkoff bunt by Lemieux in the bottom of the eighth, scoring Rice.
Buffalo held the lead for the majority of the game, and were up 3-1 heading into the final half inning.
Fidge led off the inning with a single to right field, and was pinch ran for by freshman OF Ashley Rausch. Freshman C Kaitlyn Bergman was hit by a pitch one batter later, and Turkovich moved the runners along with a sac bunt. Following the second out of the inning, Smith ripped a liner to the right center field fence, scoring both Rausch and Bergman on the game tying triple.
In extra innings, Anderson came on in relief for starter junior PÂ Marla Gooding, who went seven innings and allowed three runs on nine hits with two strikeouts. The Bulls loaded the bases with two outs, but Anderson tallied her second strikeout of the inning to send the game into the bottom half of the eighth.
Rice reached with a leadoff single, followed by a sac bunt by freshman IF Samantha Showalter to move Rice to third. With the third baseman playing deep, Lemieux laid down the second-consecutive bunt and Rice raced home for the game winning run.
Fidge went 2-for-3 in the game with a solo home run, and Smith also recorded a multi-hit game, going 2-for-4 with a clutch two-run triple.
The Rockets conclude their home slate with games against Kent State on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday's first pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m., while Sunday is set to begin at 1:00 p.m. Sunday's contest will also serve as senior day for the six Rockets who will be playing their final game at Scott Park.
