University of Toledo
Miami
Players Mentioned
Toledo Falls to Miami in MAC Cross-Division Series Opener, 31-5
5/8/2015 10:30:00 AM | Baseball
The Rockets fell behind early and could not recover against the RedHawks in today's MAC cross-division series opener
TOLEDO, OH – Toledo dropped a 31-5 decision against Miami in Friday's Mid-American Conference series opener at sunny Scott Park. With the loss, the Rockets fall to 20-29 overall, 12-10 in the league.
The RedHawks (12-35, 10-12 MAC) scored runs in all but two frames and finished with 25 hits against seven UT pitchers to win the opening contest in this weekend's cross-division series. The visitors also benefitted from 11 walks, six hit batsmen, five wild pitches and two errors to stun the Rockets.
Senior RHP Cameron Palmer (5-7) was saddled with the loss, giving up seven runs (all earned) on four hits with two walks and one strikeout in only 1.1 innings of work.
Every Miami starter recorded a multi-hit contest, including C Spencer Dull (4-for-6, 4 RS, 6 RBI) who hit for the cycle. The visitors also received three hits each from CF Jake Romano (3-for-5, 3 RS, 2 RBI), RF Matt Honchel (3-for-6, 4 RS, 6 RBI) and 2B Steve Sada (3-for-5, 5 RS, 3 RBI) to even UT's record at 4-4 in MAC series-opening games this spring.
The RedHawks' RHP Gus Graham (1-3) earned his first collegiate victory on the hill, yielding three runs (all earned) on four hits with two free passes and three punchouts in 7.0 innings of work.
Graham and reliever RHP Tommy Ricciardi allowed only Toledo junior SS Deion Tansel (2-for-3) to record a multi-hit contest. Â Â
Both teams jumped out of the gates quickly, as the teams combined for eight runs in the first at-bats. Unfortunately for the Rockets, their three runs would be all the offense they could muster against Graham, while Miami scored 26 unanswered runs and cruised to today's victory.
The RedHawks plated five tallies in the first, nine in the second, six in the third, one each in the fourth and fifth, two in the seventh and seven in the eighth to hand Toledo its worst loss of the season. The visitors also batted around in the each of their first three at-bats and again in the seventh frame.
The Rockets and RedHawks will continue their three-game series tomorrow with a 1:05 p.m. first pitch at the corner of Hill Ave. and Parkside Blvd. Sophomore LHP Steven Calhoun is slated to start on the hill for Toledo.
