University of Toledo
Akron
Toledo Suffers Heartbreaking 2-1 Season-Ending Loss to Akron in MAC Tournament
5/22/2015 12:37:00 PM | Baseball
AVON, OH – Akron scored an unearned run in the bottom of the ninth inning to secure a 2-1 victory over Toledo on Friday in the consolation round of the Mid-American Conference Tournament at All Pro Freight Stadium. With the loss, the Rockets' end their season with a 25-33 overall record.
With one out and a runner on second base in the ninth, the Zips' LF Darius Washington (2-for-4) hit a high chopper to the right side of the pitcher's mound. UT senior RHP Andrew Marra sprinted off the bump, corralled the ball, and tried to make a bit of an off-balanced throw to first base. Unfortunately for Marra and the Rockets, his throw sailed high and allowed SS Matt Rembielak (1-for-4, RS) to score all the way from second base with the game-winning run.
Junior RHP Caleb Schillace (3-7) was the tough-luck loser, allowing two unearned runs on nine hits with a pair of punchouts in a season-high 8.1 innings. Schillace was outstanding for the Midnight Blue & Gold and needed only 108 pitches to work at least 8.0 frames for the third time this spring. Â Â
The Zips drew first blood on a two-out RBI single by 1B Gerrad Rohan (1-for-3, RBI) in the bottom of the first. UA took advantage of a throwing error by freshman 2B Matt Hansen (1-for-4) to put a runner in scoring position, before Rohan laced a hit to right field to give the home team the early lead.
Toledo quickly retaliated with its lone run in the second frame to knot the score at 1-1. Junior CF John Martillotta (1-for-3, RS) and freshman 1B Dalton Bollinger (1-for-3) led off the inning with consecutive singles to put runners at the corners and brought junior RF Ryan Callahan (1-for-3) to the plate. The third-year Rocket did his job by putting the ball in play on the ground to the left side of the infield to score Martillotta with the equalizer.
Akron had a great opportunity to retake the lead in the third as the Zips had the bases loaded with one out, but a clutch double play stalled the potential big inning and kept the game tied.
The next best scoring opportunity for either team came in the top of the eighth when the Rockets had runners at first and second base with one out. UT tried to execute a hit-and-run, but the batter swung through a pitch and Callahan was erased at third base. A couple pitches later, UA RHP Jon Pusateri recorded his 11th punchout to end the frame. Â Â Â
In the deciding ninth inning, UA's Rembielak led off with a single, advanced into scoring position on a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt to end the afternoon for Schillace, and set the stage for the heartbreak ending.
The Zips' Pusateri (4-5) earned the complete-game victory on the hill, surrendering one run (one earned) on four hits with 12 strikeouts.
Akron (27-29) was paced offensively by RF Joey Havrilak (2-for-3), CF Mason Mamarella (2-for-3) and Washington with two hits each.
