TOLEDO, OH – Toledo (3-20-1, 0-2 MAC) dropped the middle game of the series to Buffalo (8-10, 2-0 MAC), 6-4, on Saturday, March 27 at Scott Park. With the loss, the Rockets drop to 3-20-1 on the season.
 
Senior RHP Kyle Slack picked up the loss for the Rockets after throwing 3.0 innings and allowing two earned runs. Slack struck out four batters and allowed three hits during the outing. Junior RHP Sam Shutes, freshman RHP Casey Johnson and freshman LHP Michael Jacob all pitched in relief for the Midnight Blue & Gold. Jacob did not give up a run and struck out two batters in 1.0 frame.
 
Senior CF John Martillotta led the way at the plate with two singles and two RBI. Sophomore 1B Dalton Bollinger reached base three times with two singles and one walk and also picked up an RBI.  Senior SS Deion Tansel added two runs and two walks. 
 
Toledo took an early 1-0 lead when Bollinger ripped a single down the left field line to score Tansel for Bollinger's sixth RBI of the season. Tansel previously reached on a walk.
 
The Bulls earned a 2-1 lead in the second inning after three UB batters reached on walks and Bobby Sheppard hit a single down the right field line to tie the game. Mike Abrunzo worked a walked with the bases loaded to give UB the lead.
 
Buffalo added two runs to its lead in the fifth with a two-run home run from Vinny Mallaro.  UB added another run in the sixth on a throwing error, giving the Bulls a 5-1 advantage.
 
Toledo fought back in the seventh inning and trimmed the Buffalo lead to one.  Three Rockets reached on walks to load the bases, and Martillotta brought home Bollinger and Tansel with a single.  Senior DH Ryan Callahan trimmed the UB lead to 5-4 in the next at-bat with a single to right-center field.
 
UB picked up an insurance run in the eighth with a Chris Kritzer double to left field to score pinch-runner Eddie Edwards III. Toledo put two runners on in the ninth, but was unable to score.
 
Toledo will be back in action tomorrow for the series finale tomorrow 1:05 p.m. on March 26 at Scott Park against Buffalo.
 
NOTABLES
- Head coach Cory Mee falls to 17-11 all-time against Buffalo.
- John Martillotta picked up his fourth multi-hit game and third multi-RBI game.
- Ryan Callahan fourth multi-hit game.
- Deion Tansel reached base in his fourth-straight contest
 
THE BULLPEN
- Shutes line: 3.2 IP, 2 H, 3 R (2 ER), 4 BB, 3 SO
- Johnson line: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 1 SO
- Jacob line 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO