Friday, March 24
Toledo, OH
7:05 p.m.
University of Toledo
vs
Northern Illinois
Toledo Hosts Northern Illinois to Open Mid-American Conference Play
3/23/2017 3:55:00 PM | Baseball
TOLEDO, Ohio - Toledo open its Mid-American Conference schedule by hosting a three-game set against west division opponent Northern Illinois from March 24-26 at Mercy Field. Friday's game will be played at 7:00 p.m., Saturday is scheduled for 3:05 p.m. and the series concludes on Sunday at 1:05 p.m.
Friday, March 24: RHP Joe Hawks (1-2, 4.01) vs. LHP Steven Calhoun (1-0, 4.03)
Saturday, March 25: RHP William Anderson (0-5, 6.98) vs. LHP Ross Achter (2-2, 2.16)
Sunday, March 26: RHP Donovin Sims (2-0, 3.19) vs. RHP Sam Shutes (2-3, 4.55)
Mercy Field will serve as the Midnight Blue & Gold's home away from home for the first series as the grounds at Scott Park are yet to become suitable for play.
The Rockets (5-15, 0-0 MAC) have won their last two contests and four of their last five dating back to March 12. UT snapped a nine-game losing streak with a 6-4 win over Florida Atlantic in the series finale in Boca Raton, Fla. Toledo kept the wins coming with game of 8-7 and 10-2 over Southern Ilinois in the University of Illinois Tournament. Again, the Rockets capped a weekend with a decisive victory, 10-4, over host Illinois.
Junior AJ Montoya was awarded with MAC West Player of the Week honors after hitting .467 (7-of-17) with four doubles, two walks, eight RBIs, scored four runs including a three-run home run on Sunday. Montoya leads the squad in average (.297), hits (22), doubles (8), and RBIs (16).
Each of Toledo's three weekend starters earned wins over the weekend. Steven Calhoun allowed six runs on 10 hits, a walk and four strikeouts to earn his first win of the season. Ross Achter notched his second win of the campaign after 6.0 innings of work. The fifth-year senior southpaw struck out five, walked one and allowed a single unearned run. Sam Shutes closed the weekend recording his second-straight win on 6.0 innings, two runs on five hits, while striking out five.
The Huskies (4-16, 0-0 MAC) dropped its first three games of the season before winning its first game, 4-0, over Chicago State. NIU fill in nine of its next 10 contest and broke an eight-game slid with a win over Saint Louis. Northern Illinois took a game during a four-game stint with Michigan to run its record to 4-15 on the year.
Roderick Bynum, the Huskies leadoff man, paces the team in hits with 24 and average at .320 (24-of-75). Bynum, Samuel Vega and Mike Roberson have each knocked in eight runs, tops on the squad. Sunday's starter, Donovin Sims, is the only Huskie to record multiple wins on the mound. Sims has posted a 3.19 ERA in 31.0 innings.
Toledo and Northern Illinois have just one common opponent thus far. The Rockets played Boston College in the Snowbird Classic, while the Huskies matched up with the Eagles in the 19 Ways Invitational. UT was defeated by BC, 6-5, and NIU also fell short, 9-1.
NIU was picked to finish fourth in the MAC West in the preseason coaches poll. Toledo was picked third with 36 points, four points higher than Northern Illinois. The Huskies received two first-place votes and the Rockets received just one.
UT will travel to the University of Michigan for a single 4:00 p.m. game on Tuesday, March 28 and host Oakland on Wednesday, March 29 at 3:05 p.m.
Mercy Field
525 S. Holland-Sylvania Rd.
Toledo, OH 43615
Friday, March 24: RHP Joe Hawks (1-2, 4.01) vs. LHP Steven Calhoun (1-0, 4.03)
Saturday, March 25: RHP William Anderson (0-5, 6.98) vs. LHP Ross Achter (2-2, 2.16)
Sunday, March 26: RHP Donovin Sims (2-0, 3.19) vs. RHP Sam Shutes (2-3, 4.55)
Mercy Field will serve as the Midnight Blue & Gold's home away from home for the first series as the grounds at Scott Park are yet to become suitable for play.
The Rockets (5-15, 0-0 MAC) have won their last two contests and four of their last five dating back to March 12. UT snapped a nine-game losing streak with a 6-4 win over Florida Atlantic in the series finale in Boca Raton, Fla. Toledo kept the wins coming with game of 8-7 and 10-2 over Southern Ilinois in the University of Illinois Tournament. Again, the Rockets capped a weekend with a decisive victory, 10-4, over host Illinois.
Junior AJ Montoya was awarded with MAC West Player of the Week honors after hitting .467 (7-of-17) with four doubles, two walks, eight RBIs, scored four runs including a three-run home run on Sunday. Montoya leads the squad in average (.297), hits (22), doubles (8), and RBIs (16).
Each of Toledo's three weekend starters earned wins over the weekend. Steven Calhoun allowed six runs on 10 hits, a walk and four strikeouts to earn his first win of the season. Ross Achter notched his second win of the campaign after 6.0 innings of work. The fifth-year senior southpaw struck out five, walked one and allowed a single unearned run. Sam Shutes closed the weekend recording his second-straight win on 6.0 innings, two runs on five hits, while striking out five.
The Huskies (4-16, 0-0 MAC) dropped its first three games of the season before winning its first game, 4-0, over Chicago State. NIU fill in nine of its next 10 contest and broke an eight-game slid with a win over Saint Louis. Northern Illinois took a game during a four-game stint with Michigan to run its record to 4-15 on the year.
Roderick Bynum, the Huskies leadoff man, paces the team in hits with 24 and average at .320 (24-of-75). Bynum, Samuel Vega and Mike Roberson have each knocked in eight runs, tops on the squad. Sunday's starter, Donovin Sims, is the only Huskie to record multiple wins on the mound. Sims has posted a 3.19 ERA in 31.0 innings.
Toledo and Northern Illinois have just one common opponent thus far. The Rockets played Boston College in the Snowbird Classic, while the Huskies matched up with the Eagles in the 19 Ways Invitational. UT was defeated by BC, 6-5, and NIU also fell short, 9-1.
NIU was picked to finish fourth in the MAC West in the preseason coaches poll. Toledo was picked third with 36 points, four points higher than Northern Illinois. The Huskies received two first-place votes and the Rockets received just one.
UT will travel to the University of Michigan for a single 4:00 p.m. game on Tuesday, March 28 and host Oakland on Wednesday, March 29 at 3:05 p.m.
Mercy Field
525 S. Holland-Sylvania Rd.
Toledo, OH 43615
Players Mentioned
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