Charlotte, NC – Toledo softball team kicked off its 2016 campaign with a doubleheader split on Saturday at the Charlotte First Pitch Classic hosted by the University of Charlotte. UT started its day out with a 5-4 victory over UMass before falling 4-3 to Youngstown State. The Rockets (1-1) are scheduled to play another game on Sunday vs. host Charlotte at 1:30 p.m.
 
In game one, junior Celeste Fidge went 2-for-4 at the plate with an RBI. Freshmen Samantha Showalter also recorded a multi-hit performance, while notching the only double. The Rockets pounded out 11 hits and held UMASS to five.
 
The Rockets plated their first run in the top of the first with an RBI single from Fidge that scored sophomore Ashley Rausch.

UMass broke through against UT starter Marla Gooding (7.0 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 2 K) with four runs in the bottom of the third, two of which came off a double and triple. Toledo responded with two runs in the top of the fourth with an RBI single by Kaitlyn Bergman.
 
The Minutemen relinquished their lead after four innings. The Rockets added two more runs in the top of the seventh off an RBI single by Maynard. Lemieux advanced to third and scored off of a fielding error, which paved the way for a run scored by junior Chandler Rice.
 
"We had great two-strike approaches today at the plate and we worked the count well," said head coach Kristen Butler. "Our bench did a phenomenal job in both games coming up with clutch hits, stolen bases and defensive lays. The stronger our bench plays, the stronger our team will be."
 
In the second game, YSU jumped on top with two runs in the first to establish some momentum. The Penguins held their lead until Toledo answered back with two runs of its own in the top of the fifth. Choate singled but advanced to third on a fielding error allowing freshmen Kaitlyn Cozy and Kaitlyn Bergman to score. Choate was able to score on a sacrifice fly by freshmen Danni Ryan.
 
UT held its lead until the bottom of the seventh when Sarah Dowd hit a homer and managed to bring in Jordan Macy.
 
Toledo left two runners on base and committed one error against YSU, compared to the nine runners they stranded in game one.
 
"We need to do a better job of staying locked in from pitch to pitch and moving on to the next play," said Butler. "We were able to get a lot of people in the games today and gave our freshmen some game experience."
 
The Rockets will return to the field tomorrow to battle Charlotte. First pitch against the 49ers is slated for 1:30 p.m.