Rockets Snap Nine-Game Skid With 6-4 Win Over Florida Atlantic

Sunday, March 12

Boca Raton, FL

11:00 a.m.

University of Toledo

2-14

Florida Atlantic

10-5-1

Toledo

Florida Atlantic

AJ Montoya came through with a three-run double in Toledo's win over Florida Atlantic

Rockets Snap Nine-Game Skid With 6-4 Win Over Florida Atlantic

3/12/2017 5:09:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

BOCA RATON, Fla. - Junior AJ Montoya cleared the bases with a three-run double down the left field line to give Toledo the lead and eventually a 6-4 win over Florida Atlantic on Sunday afternoon at the FAU Baseball Stadium.

The Rockets (2-14) received a strong start from senior Sam Shutes on the mound. Shutes pitched 6.0 innings and allowed four runs, three earned on six hits, four walks and three strikeouts. Sophomore Michael Jacob closed out the game with 2.2 no-hit innings in relief. Junior Brad Boss led the offense, going 3-for-4 with an RBI and a pair of runs.

Toledo opened the scoring for the third-straight game, this time in the third inning. Boss singled through the right side to lead off the inning and advanced to second when freshman Michael Ryan grounded out to third. Junior Matt Hansen came to the plate and delivered an RBI to center to make the score 1-0.

Shutes threw three shutout innings before FAU was able to plate three runs in the fourth. A single, a double and a walk loaded the bases with no outs and a sacrifice fly chased home the first run for the Owls. A double steal netted another run and an RBI single capped the inning with Florida Atlantic leading 3-1.

UT answered with a five-run fifth in which the Rockets sent 10 batters to the plate. Senior Josh Cales started the action with a double to left field and scored when Boss laced an RBI single to center. Boss went to second on the throw home, moved to second on a productive out by Ryan and scored on a FAU error.

Sophomore Riley Campbell reached on a fielder's choice, sophomore Ross Adolph singled and junior Dalton Bollinger walked to load the bases for Montoya. Montoya lined the first pitch of the at-bat just inside the bag at third to clear the bases and give the Midnight Blue & Gold a 6-3 edge.

Shutes worked around two walks in the bottom of the sixth to keep the Owls off the board. After the Rockets went three up and three down in the seventh, Shutes went back out for his final inning of work. A single, a sacrifice bunt and an RBI single plated Florida Atlantic's fourth and final run of the game. Shutes finished the inning at 102 pitches.

Fifth-year senior Caleb Schillace made his second appearance of the season in relief of Shutes and allowed a pair of singles before recording a putout on a foul fly ball. Schillace was lifted for Jacob with runners on first and second and one out. Jacob set down the next two batters to end the inning.

After a pair of walks in the eighth, Jacob retired five Owls in a row to notch his second save of the season. Shutes (1-3) gets his first win of the season.

The Rockets travel to Champaign, Ill. for the University of Illinois Tournament on March 17-19. Toledo will play a pair of games against Southern Illinois and two more against the hosting Illini.