OXFORD, Ohio – Two Rocket runs plated on three-consecutive doubles during the top of the fifth evened the score, but wasn't quite enough as Miami (19-15, 5-4 MAC ) powered past Toledo, 9-5, on Friday afternoon at the Miami Softball Field. With its first loss in five games, UT drops to 17-24 on the season and 5-4 in the league.
 
Toledo's offense was propelled by two-hit efforts from senior 2B Chandler Rice (2-for-3, 2B, two runs), junior OF Ashley Rausch (2-for-4, 2B, RBI, two runs), senior OF Celeste Fidge (2-for-4, 2B, three RBI) and junior OF Kylie Gross (2-for-4, 2B).
 
In the circle for the Rockets, sophomore starter Kailey Minarchick was replaced by freshman Alissa Noble after allowing five runs off five hits in 0.2 innings of work. Noble (3-7) was saddled with the loss after permitting two earned runs of five hits in 4.1 innings. Sophomore Heather Webb relieved Noble in the sixth and allowed two runs off one hit and three walks in one frame.
 
UT's offense got right into business when Rice reached on a lead-off walk in the opening frame. Rice advanced to third on a single by Rausch. After Rausch stole second, Fidge drove a one-out double to right center to score both runners and give Toledo a 2-0 advantage.
 
Miami put two aboard in the bottom of the inning off a single and a walk. A one-out RBI double to left field by Joniann Wahl cut the RedHawks' deficit in half and a Toledo fielding error deadlocked the score at 2-2. Three-consecutive two-out singles scored three runs to give Miami a 5-2 edge by the end of the first.
 
Neither team threatened again until the fifth inning. Rice ignited the Rockets' offense with a lead-off double to left center off the second pitch. Rausch followed with a double down the right-field line to score Rice, and freshman Morgan Paaverud followed suit with a double to left-center to bring home Rausch and put UT within one. Fidge drove a single through the right side which allowed Paaverud to plate a run and knot the scoreboard at 5-5. Toledo was unable to take the lead and ended the inning with two stranded.
 
Miami regained its lead with a pair of runs scored off a double and single on two outs in the home-half of the fifth.
 
Hoping to answer right back, Toledo received a lead-off double from Gross to begin the sixth, but no further Rockets were able to get on base. The RedHawks expanded their lead to 9-5 via a sacrifice fly and a wild pitch in the bottom of the frame.
 
Toledo will return to Miami Softball Field tomorrow for a doubleheader at 1:00 p.m.