Avon, OH – No. 5 Toledo was eliminated from the Mid-American Conference Tournament by No. 8 Eastern Michigan (22-35), 6-1, on Thursday, May 27 at All Pro Freight Stadium. With the loss, the Rockets will finish the year 19-38-1.
 
"It was a tough game today," head coach Cory Mee said. "Their starting pitcher did a great job and we struggled to get something going. I'm so proud of the fight of our guys today and all season long. It shows a lot about the character of this team."
 
The Rockets were able to manage just five hits during the contest. Sophomore 2B Matt Hansen brought home the only UT RBI when he drove in sophomore CF AJ Montoya on a sacrifice fly. Hansen also picked up a hit during the contest.
 
Junior RHP Sam Shutes was tagged with the loss after allowing five earned runs to score over 5.1 frames. Shutes allowed eight hits and struck out three batters during the outing. Three Rockets – freshman RHP Casey Johnson, sophomore RHP Nolan Silberhorn and senior RHP Kyle Slack – pitched in relief. Johnson did not allow a run in 1.1 frames, and Silberhorn did not allow a run in 1.0 inning.
 
Augie Gallardo pitched a complete game for EMU, striking out six batters and allowing one earned run.
 
Eastern Michigan jumped out in front in the fourth with a two-run home run from John Montgomery to give EMU a 2-0 advantage.
 
EMU added to its lead in the next frame. Austin Wilson hit a single to left field that scored David Lett. UT ended the inning with a 6-4-3 groundball double play.
 
The Eagles continued to tack runs on in the sixth. A Montgomery ground-rule double scored one and forced UT to the pen. After the pitching change, Johnson walked one runner in to give EMU a 5-0 lead.
 
Toledo scored its only run of the game on a Hansen sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh that brought home Montoya.
 
Mike Mioduszewski tacked on another run for EMU in the ninth with a single up the middle that scored Austin Wilson.
 
PITCHING
Shutes (L, 5): 5.1 IP, 5 R, 5 ER, 8 H, 3 K, 2 BB
Johnson: 1.1 IP, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 H, 1 K, 2 BB
Silberhorn: 1.1 IP, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 K, 2 BB
Slack: 1.0 IP, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 H, 0 K, 1 BB