COOKEVILLE, TN - The Rockets took a one-run lead into the eighth inning but could not hold on as they dropped the season opener to Tennessee Tech, 7-5, on Friday night at Bush Stadium.

Toledo (0-1) trailed by one after the inaugural inning, as Tennessee Tech (1-0) scored on a Chris Brown RBI single through the left side of the infield. 

In the top of the third inning, junior Brad Boss connected on a 1-1 pitch, tying the score at 1-1 with a solo home run over the right field wall.

Junior Matt Hansen singled to lead off the fourth and advanced to second on a wild pitch. After a strikeout and a walk to freshman Malave Bettinger, senior Josh Cales singled through the left side on a perfectly executed hit-and-run to score Hansen and give the Rockets a 2-1 advantage.

In the Golden Eagle fifth, Toledo senior LHP Steven Calhoun recorded an out before loading the bases on a hit batter, a single and a walk. After a quick mound visit, Calhoun induced the ground ball he needed to turn the double play and get out of trouble.

Toledo struck for three runs in the top of the seventh with help from the TTU defense. Boss walked and junior AJ Montoya singled to left field. Montoya's hit was played into a two-base error which allowed Boss to score all the way from first. Montoya eventually scored from third on a wild pitch.

Later in the inning, junior Dalton Bollinger tripled with the aid of the stadium lights and scored on a line drive double off the bat of Hansen.

A Chase Chambers' two-run home run in the bottom half of the frame brought Tennessee Tech to within a run, 5-4. The Golden Eagles took the lead in the eighth on a two-run single by Kevin Strohschein. TTU tacked on a run on a sac fly by Brown to make the final count 7-5.

Toledo senior RHP Jordan Kesson is tagged with the loss in relief, while Tennessee Tech's Evan Fraliex is credited with the win.

Calhoun took a no-decision after going 5.0 innings, giving up a run on three hits with two walks and a pair of punchouts.

The Rockets are slated for two games vs. Tennessee Tech on Saturday, Feb. 17. First pitches are scheduled for 1:00 p.m. and tentatively 4:00 p.m.