CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Toledo defeated Southern Illinois 8-7 before falling to Illinois, 11-5, in a doubleheader at the University of Illinois Tournament on Friday, March 17 at Illinois Field. 

The Rockets (3-15) won their third game of the season, coming on the strength of senior starting pitcher Steven Calhoun before falling to Big 10 member Illinois in the nightcap.

GAME 1 - Southern Illinois

The Rockets found themselves down 2-0 after the second inning, but battled back in the middle innings to take a 8-7 win in the University of Illinois Tournament opener. 

Southern Illinois (9-8) scored in the top of the first inning on a two-out solo home run. The Salukis added a run in the second inning on a double and an RBI single to go ahead 2-0.

Toledo cut the lead in half in the bottom of the second with the help of back-to-back doubles. Junior Dalton Bollinger doubled to lead off the inning and was chase home on an RBI double by junior AJ Montoya. 

UT took the lead with a three-run third inning which was started by a single from junior Matt Hansen. Sophomore Riley Campbell singled through the right side and sophomore Ross Adolph doubled down the right field line to score Hansen. Montoya doubled again to score both Campbell and Adolph.

The Salukis put together a three-run fifth inning to regain the lead, 5-4.

Not to be outdone, the Rockets put up three in the bottom half of the inning to take back a 7-5 lead. Campbell walked, Adolph singled and Montoya doubled for the third time in the game to score both runners. Freshman Malave Bettinger came through with a ground-rule double to score Montoya to cap the inning.

SIU and UT traded runs in the top of the sixth and bottom of the seventh, respectively. The Toledo run came on a Josh Cales two-out solo home run to left field. Cales' homer put the Rockets up two runs, 8-6. 

Toledo allowed a run in the top of the ninth inning but held on for a 8-7 win. Steven Calhoun was credited with his first win in his first decision of the season. Sophomore Michael Jacob is credited with his third save of the season.

GAME 2 - Illinois

The Rockets trailed 2-0 but rallied and took the lead 3-2 with a three-run third inning. Senior Corey Tipton walked, freshman Antonio Bennett singled and Hansen walked to load the bases for Riley Campbell. Campbell laced a ball to left center for a triple that scored Tipton, Bennett and Hansen all the way from first. 

Illinois responded with three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning and canceled out Toledo's one run fifth with a four-run sixth, taking a 9-4 lead. 

The Illini added four runs in the sixth and a pair of runs in the seventh to take a commanding 11-4 lead. Toledo attempted a late comeback when Cales was hit by a pitch. Junior singled and Tipton flied out, a sacrifice fly, to score Cales. Unfortunately, that was the last run Toledo would score, ending in a 11-5 loss.

The Rockets will play Southern Illinois on Saturday, March 18 and Illinois on Sunday, March 19 to conclude the University of Illinois Tournament.