TOLEDO, Ohio – Toledo (15-23, 3-3 MAC) never trailed in its series finale with Buffalo (6-28, 1-5 MAC) and downed the Bulls, 5-1, on Sunday afternoon at Scott Park.
 
Junior CF Ashley Rausch led the UT offense by going 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored. Sophomore SS Megan Choate (2-for-3) also tallied a pair of hits and a run scored. Senior 2B Chandler Rice and junior 1B Samantha Showalter each knocked in a tally, while also scoring a run.Rice improved her career-high hitting streak to 15 games.
 
In the circle, sophomore RHP Kailey Minarchick (5-8) earned the victory by allowing one run on six hits and zero walks in four innings of work. Freshman RHP Alissa Noble notched her first save of the season after allowing just one baserunner on a hit-by-pitch in three innings of relief work.
 
"If we show up and compete in every game then we can put ourselves in position to win," said Head Coach Kristen Butler. "We did a great job of executing our game plan this weekend. We have to keep our focus because we turn around and play EMU on Tuesday."
 
Toledo took a quick 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Rice led off the game with a double to left center and was soon followed by Rausch who reached on a single up the middle. Fidge knocked in the first run off an RBI single to left. A fielding error by the Bulls' left fielder advanced Fidge to second and allowed Rausch to cross the plate.
 
Another two-run inning in the UT third extended the lead to 4-0. Rausch drove a lead-off double to left center to get the Rockets into business. Showalter immediately followed with an identical double to bring home Rausch which forced Buffalo to send in RHP Charlotte Miller to relieve starter Brieanna Baker (0-8). Maynard hit a two-out single up the middle to score Showalter and end the inning's scoring.
 
Buffalo loaded the bases off consecutive singles and a fielder's choice in the fourth and finally crossed the plate with the help of a Toledo fielding error.
 
Choate gave UT a 5-1 advantage by plating a run in the fifth on a fielding error by Buffalo's shortstop.
 
The Midnight Blue & Gold will return to Scott Park on Tuesday, April 4 when they host Eastern Michigan in a doubleheader at 1:00 p.m.