East Lansing, MI – Toledo grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the third inning but fell to Michigan State (28-10), 4-1, at McLane Baseball Stadium on Wednesday, April 27. With the loss, the Rockets fall to 9-32-1.
 
The pitching staff did not allow a walk during the contest. Freshman Parker Ruffer was tagged with the loss after throwing 1.0 inning and allowing four earned runs to cross the plate. Sophomore RHP Nolan Silberhorn earned his second career start and tied a career-high in frames with four and strikeouts with three. Sophomore LHP Alex Wagner, freshman RHP Casey Johnson and junior RHP Jordan Kesson each pitched 1.0 inning in relief and did not allow a run to score.
 
UT scattered nine hits during the game. Freshman LF Ross Adolph tied a career-high with three hits while senior RF Cory Finkler earned his second multi-hit game of the year with two singles. Sophomore CF Brad Boss drove in the lone RBI for the Rockets and Senior C Corey Tipton scored the run. Tipton also singled and walked.
 
Toledo took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning on a fielder's choice from Boss to score Tipton. Tipton reached base on a walk, his fifth free pass of the year.
 
MSU grabbed the lead in the fifth. Kris Simonton grounded out to second base to bring home Matt Byars to tie the game. A home run from Zack McGuire would make the game 2-1.
 
The Spartans extended its advantage in the sixth to 4-1 with two singles. Jordan Zimmerman and Marty Bechina both ripped singles to center field.
 
The Rockets will be back in action when it returns to Scott Park on Friday, April 29 at 3:05 p.m. against Western Michigan.
 
PITCHING
Silberhorn: 4.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 K, 0 BB
Ruffer: 1.0 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 K, 0 BB (Faced two batters in sixth)
Wagner: 1.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 K, 0 BB
Johnson: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 K, 0 BB
Kesson: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 K, 0 BB