FORT WAYNE, Ind. – A four-run first-inning by Toledo (12-20) wasn't enough on Wednesday as the Rockets fell to Fort Wayne (7-22), 9-7, in its last contest before conference play.
 
During the contest, UT's offense registered nine hits from seven different Rockets. Senior 2B Chandler Rice and sophomore SS Megan Choate each notched a multi-hit performance. Rice went 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI, while Choate went 2-for-3 with a run scored.
 
Sophomore starter Heather Webb hurled for 3.0 innings and allowed two earned runs on five hits and four walks while striking out three. Freshman Alissa Noble (2-6) suffered the defeat after permitting five earned runs off four hits and two walks in 2.0 innings of work. Freshman Leah Allison closed out the game for Toledo with one walk in 1.0 inning of relief work.
 
Toledo produced the game's initial scoring threat during the top of the first after Rice led off with a walk. Junior OF Ashley Rausch singled to third base off her first pitch and junior DH Samantha Showalter was walked to quickly load the bases. With three aboard and no outs, freshman 1B Morgan Paaverud hit a sacrifice fly to left to bring home Rice. Senior C Ashley Maynard then drove a two-out offering from IPFW Bailey Benefiel to center for a three-run homer to give UT a 4-0 advantage.
 
In the home half of the second, Fort Wayne wasted no time generating a scoring opportunity going with a double and consecutive walks to load the bases. The Mastodons plated a run off a two-out RBI single by 2B Lauren Watson to cut Toledo's lead to 4-1. Webb retired the next batter and got UT out of the inning with no further damage.
 
After Toledo left two runners stranded in the top of the third, Fort Wayne used the long ball to come within one of the Rockets in the bottom half. With OF Courtney Holm at second on a walk and a sac fly, 3B Brooke Imel ripped a one-out two-run bomb to center to reduce UT's lead to 4-3.
 
The 'Dons offense continued their unanswered 3-0 run in the bottom of the fifth and busted the game open with a six-run frame. Following a triple ripped down the right-field line, Caitlyn DeLong singled through the right side to deadlock things on the scoreboard at 4-4. With three runners aboard and one retired, Fort Wayne took a 7-4 lead via two fielder choices and a walk. The 'Dons doubled UT's total off an RBI single to shortstop and finished the inning's scoring with a run plated following a Toledo fielding error.
 
With Fort Wayne leading 9-4, the Rockets put together a pair of runs to cut into the 'Dons lead. Following a Choate single and a walk by junior Marriah Wise, Rice ripped a single up the middle to plate Choate and advanced to second on the opponent's throw. Rausch grounded out to second base to score Wise and cut the UT deficit to just 9-6.
 
Desperate for a seventh-inning rally, senior pinch-hitter Celeste Fidge got the Rockets started with a leadoff single to right. Freshman Samantha Golden followed in the senior's footsteps and singled down the left-field line to put two runners on. With two Rockets retired on flyouts to center and left field, Choate stepped to the dish and singled up the middle to load the bases. Freshman Maddie Emery then pinch-hit for Wise and reached on a walk which forced a run for UT. The next Toledo batter lined out to right field and ended the game with the Rockets on the losing end of a 9-7 decision.