TOLEDO, OH – Toledo continued to move up the Mid-American Conference Standings with an 8-4 victory over Eastern Michigan (20-33, 10-13). The Rockets can finish as high as fifth in the MAC, and currently sits tied for fifth. With the win, the Rockets improve to 17-36-1 overall and 12-11 in the MAC.
"It was another great team win today," head coach Cory Mee said. "We picked up good pitching performances and put together a solid game offensively."
Senior LHP Ross Achter earned his team-high seventh victory after throwing 7.0 quality innings and allowing just one earned run. Achter fanned five batters in the start and scattered six hits. Freshman LHP Michael Jacob closed the door on EMU with 2.0 frames in the ninth. Jacob allowed one earned run and fanned three batters.
"I love how Ross was aggressive and attacked the hitters today," Mee said. "I'm impressed by the poise and composure that shows on the mound. He's not rattled by any situation. It really has helped him become successful this season.
The offensive stayed hot today, with every Rocket picking up at least one hit. Six UT batters ripped an extra-base hit.
"We made an adjustment early in the game and put together some great at-bats," Mee said. "We tacked some runs on late which was huge on a day like today."
Senior 3B John Martillotta led the Rocket offense after driving in two RBI with a double and a single, and also reaching once on a walk. Senior SS Deion Tansel jumpstarted innings for the Rockets with a three hits including one double and two runs scored. Freshman LF Ross Adolph ripped his first-career triple, knocking in one RBI. Adolph scored on an error on the play. Three other Rockets – sophomore 2B Matt Hansen, sophomore 1B Dalton Bollinger and senior C Lucas Sokol – also drove in one RBI.
Eastern Michigan grabbed the lead in the third inning. Marquise Gill broke to steal third and advanced home on a throwing error from Senior C Lucas Sokol.
Toledo exploded for four runs in the fourth inning. Martillotta started the scoring with a single through the right side of the infield to score Tansel. Adolph scored Martillotta with a triple to right-center field and scored on an error from the left fielder. Hansen closed the scoring with a deep double to left-center field to score Sokol who reached on his first double of the year.
UT added a run in the bottom of the fifth with a Bollinger rip up the middle to score Boss and give UT a 5-1 advantage.
EMU cut the lead down to 5-2 in the top of the sixth inning with a Mike Mioduszewski single through the right side of the infield to score Mitchell McGeein.
Eastern Michigan scored another unearned run in the seventh with a groundout to first base to score Drake Lubin. Lubin reached on a throwing error.
Toledo put the game out of reach in the seventh inning. Martillotta ripped a double down the left field line to score Tansel and give UT a 6-3 lead. UT added two more runs on a passed ball to score Bollinger and a sacrifice bunt from Sokol.
The Eagles earned one back in the top of the eighth with a home run to left field from McGeein but was unable to further close the gap.
Toledo will close the regular season at Scott Park on Saturday, May 21 at 1:05 p.m. vs. Eastern Michigan.
