Northridge, CA – Toledo split a pair of games on its first day at Cal. State-Northridge's Matador Classic. The Rockets fell to Grand Canyon 11-3 in their opening game before edging the reigning Big West Conference champions Cal State Northridge, 6-5, on Thursday at Matador Diamond.

In game one, freshman Heather Webb (0-4) suffered the loss for the Rockets after pitching 4.0 innings and allowing six earned runs.

GCU scored five quick runs in the first with the help of a three-run homer by Sierra Smith.

Toledo plated its first run in the top of the second. Junior SS Brittany George reached on a walk and stole second on the next pitch. Junior C Ashley Maynard drilled a shot over second base that allowed George to score.

Junior 3B Chandler Rice notched an RBI single to right-center and reached third on a throw to home. Rice scored senior OF Samantha Emery, who had reached on a single. Rice crossed the plate on the next play due to a fielding error on the pitcher.

The Antelopes answered with an RBI double to close out the third with a 7-3 lead.

GCU ended the game in the fifth by scoring four runs to enforce the eight-run mercy rule.

Cal State Northridge was undefeated in four previous meetings against Toledo heading into Thursday's matchup.

Senior Marla Gooding put an end to that with her seventh complete game, allowing four earned runs, walking one and striking out five to improve her win-loss mark to 4-6.

Senior OF Jessica Lemieux started things off quickly for the Rockets in the first. After drawing a walk, Lemieux stole second and third base and crossed the plate after a throwing error on the catcher.

The Matadors matched Toledo with a run of their own in the first inning to knot the score at 1-1.

The Rockets regained the lead in the second by loading the bases with two walks and a single. Maynard scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch.

Toledo found itself with the bases loaded again in the third. Emery reached on a four-pitch walk, Rice singled through the right side and junior Celeste Fidge reached on a fielding error. Maynard's sacrifice fly to left field allowed Emery to score and give Toledo a two-run advantage.

Sophomore OF Ashley Rausch and Bergman both reached on CSUN fielding errors in the fourth. Choate's sacrifice bunt put them in scoring position, and Bergman eventually scored Toledo's fourth run following a wild pitch.

Rice and Fidge singled up the middle to open the fifth and both runners advanced on a Matador fielding error. Rice found time to round third and cross the plate, giving Toledo a 5-1 advantage in the fifth.

Choate singled to left field to start off the sixth. After Lemieux reached on a fielder's choice, Emery' sac bunt put both runners in scoring position. Rice then reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases.

With one out, Fidge reached first on a four-pitch walk, which forced Choate to cross the plate for Toledo's sixth run.

The Matadors crossed the plate for the first time in five innings to bring the score to 6-2.

After a scoreless seventh inning for the Rockets, CSUN's Katie Hooper hit a three-run homer to pull the Matadors back in the ballgame. The home team was unable to tie the score before Gooding struck out two and Choate caught a pop-up to second to end the game.

The Rockets return to the field tomorrow for an 8:30 a.m. PT rematch against the Antelopes.