TOLEDO, Ohio - Toledo battled back from down eight runs and the Rockets eventually outlasted Buffalo, 21-20, in a Mid-American Conference marathon victory to clinch the series win on Saturday afternoon at Scott Park.

In the entirety of the game, there were only five half innings in which the offensive team did not score. Everyone in the Toledo lineup had at least two hits along with eight of nine batters for Buffalo. Freshman Antonio Bennett led the Rockets with a perfect 4-for-4 afternoon, while UB's Ben Haefner was 5-for-6.

The Rockets (12-23, 6-5 MAC) supplied 22 hits, six for extra bases, including a big three-run home run by junior Matt Hansen. Hansen had a career-day for the Rockets. The Erie, Pa. native was 3-for-6, scored four runs and recorded a career-high seven RBIs to pace UT.

Buffalo's (10-21, 3-5 MAC) Vinny Mallaro was a thorn in the side of Rocket pitching all day as the designated hitter was 3-for-4 with two home runs and nine RBIs.

Those in attendance knew it was going to be a shootout after the very first inning. The Bulls hung four runs in the first inning on fifth-year senior Ross Achter, who has been sterling in his last five starts. 

Toledo didn't blink and started a three-run rally with two outs in the bottom of the first, making the score 4-3. Hansen singled and Bollinger hit his first of three doubles to score him from first. Junior AJ Montoya knocked in Bollinger with an RBI single and sophomore Ross Adolph walked to prolong the inning. Montoya would score as freshman Malave Bettinger reached on an error.

After Achter blanked the Bulls, the Rockets took the lead with two runs in the second. Bennett singled, as did junior Brad Boss to start the rally. Sophomore Riley Campbell moved the runners with a sacrifice bunt and Hansen knocked them in with a two-run single.

A walk, a single and a walk loaded the bases against Achter in the third. UB tied the game with a sac fly and regained the lead, 6-5, on an RBI fielder's choice. Buffalo added two to make it 8-5 on a two-run home run in the fourth.

Buffalo looked to put the game away with a five-run fifth inning, including a towering three-run home run by Mallaro.

Trailing 13-5, the Rockets sent 10 hitters to the plate and put up a six spot in the bottom half of the inning. Toledo started the inning with four-straight singles by Bettinger, senior Corey Tipton, Bennett and Boss. Hansen drove in another run with a fielder's choice to reach a tally of 13-8.

Bollinger laced a double down the left field line, bringing in Boss, and Montoya follow with a double of his own, bringing in Hansen and Bollinger. Just like that it was back to a two-run game, 13-11.

The momentum swung right back in the favor of UB as the Bulls plated four more in the top of the sixth. The big blow in the inning was a two-run single by Haefner.

The rollercoaster continued to go up and down by the half inning. The Rockets batted around for the second-straight inning, scoring seven runs and taking an 18-17 lead. Tipton and Bennett each singled to set the table for Campbell, who singled in the catcher Tipton.

Bennett was at second and Campbell at first when Hansen smoked a first-pitch fastball over the right field wall for a three-run shot. Bollinger's third double, a walk to Montoya and a walk to Adolph loaded the bases. Bettinger came through with a two-run double to tie the game, 17-17. A sac fly by Bennett gave the Rocket the lead.

Toledo finally put up a zero when junior Nolan Silberhorn posted a scoreless side in the seventh. The Toledo hitters came back to the dugout and extended the lead to 20-17 with two more.

Campbell was hit by a pitch to put the lead off man at first and a Hansen single put two runner aboard. Adolph singled to score Campbell and Bettinger hit a fly ball just deep enough to score Hansen from third.

Mallaro played the villain role against the Rockets again as he connected for a three-run home run, his second of the game, to tie the score at 20 apiece.

Bennett single for his fourth hit to start the home eighth and moved to second on a key passed ball. Campbell singled to left, but Bennett had to put the brakes on at third. Up next was Hansen and he knocked in his seventh run of the game on an RBI fielder's choice, putting UT up 21-20. His seven RBIs are the most by a Toledo player since Dan Sherwood had seven vs. Buffalo on April 10, 2010.

Senior Josh Cales recorded the final two outs of the eighth inning and stayed on to pitch a scoreless ninth to record the win.

The Rockets look to sweep Buffalo in the final game against the Bulls tomorrow, April 16, at 1:05 p.m.