CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Junior AJ Montoya and freshman Michael Ryan each connected on fifth-inning home runs to lead the Rockets to a 10-4 win over Illinois in the University of Illinois Tournament finale on Sunday.

Toledo (5-15) senior starting pitcher Sam Shutes was dazzling in 6.0 innings of work. Shutes allowed just five hits and a pair of earned runs with a career-high tying nine strikeouts. 

The Rockets starters their run scoring early with a three spot in the top of the second frame. Montoya singled, freshman Malave Bettinger walked, Ryan walked and all three scored on a two-out three run double by freshman Antonio Bennett. 

Illinois (5-10) came back with a run in the bottom of the third to make the score 3-1 in favor of the Rockets. Toledo responded right back with a run in the fourth and again it was Bettinger setting the table with a one-out double. Ryan plated Bettinger to make it 4-1.

Sophomore Ross Adolph and junior Dalton Bollinger drew back-to-back walks with one out in the fifth and trotted home on Montoya's first home run of the season. It was Ryan's turn to go deep three batters later, scoring Bettinger who was hit by a pitch earlier in the inning.

The Illini tallied their second run against Shutes in the fifth, but the Toledo offense tacked on a run in the sixth on an RBI groundout by Bollinger. Illinois plated a pair of runs in the seventh but could get no closer as fifth-year senior Caleb Schillace and senior Jordan Kesson combined for 3.0 innings of three-hit baseball in relief.

Shutes (2-3) picked up his second win in a row on the mound.

The Rockets play a mid-week game with Notre Dame on Wednesday, March 22 before starting Mid-American Conference play vs. Northern Illinois on Friday.