BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - Toledo and Bowling Green split a Mid-American Conference doubleheader to begin their I-75 rivalry series on Saturday afternoon at Steller Field. UT was defeated 5-4 in the first game, but put it all together for a 20-4 win in the nightcap. 

In game one, the Rockets fell behind 5-0 before a valiant comeback attempt in the final two innings netted the Midnight Blue & Gold four runs but ultimately came up short.

The second game was all Toledo as the Rockets put up four runs in the first inning and never stopped scoring. UT tallied a season-high 20 runs on a season-high 23 hits in the win.

GAME ONE: Toledo Comeback Falls Short in 5-4 Loss to BGSU

Toledo (9-22, 3-5 MAC) fell behind 5-0 in the bottom of the seventh inning and a four-run rally fell just short as Bowling Green took the first game of the doubleheader, 5-4.

Senior starting pitcher Steven Calhoun kept the Falcons off the scoreboard in the first three innings as he dance around danger in the first then threw two perfect innings in the second and third frames. 

The Falcons (8-18, 4-4 MAC) scored the first run as a lead off walk and a double put two runners in scoring position with no outs. Calhoun managed to get the third batter of the inning to hit into an unconventional double play, but a run scored to break the stalemate. 

The Rockets could get nothing going offensively as Bowling Green starter Tyler Anderson faced the minimum through four innings. 

BGSU added to its lead with three runs, one earned, in the fifth inning and netted its fifth run on a solo home run in the seventh.

UT was not done however, as the Rockets spoiled the shut out with a score in the eighth. Junior Ross Adolph led off the inning with a double to center and scored on a pinch-hit double down the left field line by senior Jake Krupar.

The Rockets continued to rally with a three-spot in their last at-bat. Junior Matt Hansen singled up the middle for one of his three hits in the game and advanced on a single by junior Dalton Bollinger. 

Adolph doubled again, this time to left center, to score Hansen and a sacrifice fly by freshman Malave Bettinger plated Bollinger. Freshman Michael Ryan singled home Adolph for the Rockets final tally.

Calhoun (2-2) takes the loss but pitched a complete game 8.0 innings on 104 pitches. It is Toledo's first complete game since Calhoun accomplished the feat in 2015 vs. Ball State. Anderson (2-5) earns the win for Bowling Green.

GAME TWO: Rockets Collect 23 Hits in 20-4 Rout of Bowling Green

Momentum of a late rally in game one spilled over to game two as the Rockets scored four runs in the opening innings and never looked back in a 20-4 win over Bowling Green.

The Rockets had contribution from up and down the lineup but the epicenter of the offensive explosion was junior AJ Montoya. Montoya went 4-for-4 with a pair of home runs, two doubles, a walk and four runs in the contest.

An auspicious walk to junior Brad Boss started the game and Hansen followed suit with a walk of his own. Bollinger dropped a single into right to load the bases for Montoya. Montoya unloaded on a 2-2 change-up to spot the Rockets an early 4-0 lead.

Boss extended the lead in the top of the second inning with a solo home run to right on a 1-1 offering. The Falcons cracked the scoreboard with an answer run in the bottom of the second.

Montoya doubled to start a one-out attack in the third inning and scored on the next pitch as Adolph singled down the right field line. Bowling Green tallied a run in the bottom of fifth to make the count 5-2.

From there, the game quickly got out of hand as the Rockets batted around in each of the next three innings. Bollinger singled to start the seventh and Montoya was walked on four pitches. Senior Josh Cales was also walked to load the bases with one out.

Ryan delivered on the opportunity with a three-run triple to dead center field. freshman Antonio Bennett capped the inning with an RBI single to bring in Ryan.

After two runs in the bottom of the inning for the Falcons, the Rockets put the game away with a five-run eighth. Bollinger singled to start the eighth and Montoya launched his second home run of the game on a 1-0 fastball. Montoya is the first Rockets to drive in six runs since Dan Sherwood knocked in seven on April 10, 2010.

Adolph continued his great day with his second double of the game. Two wild pitches allowed Adolph to score, making the lead 12-4. Ryan walked and moved to third on a double by Bennett. Both runners came around on a one-out, two-run double by Boss. 

The Rockets tacked on five more in the ninth for good measure. Junior Casey Gose singled up the middle to give UT its 20th hit of the game, the first time for the program since 2011. Cales was hit by a pitch and Ryan walked to load the bases again. 

A sac fly from Bennett plated a run and RBI double from Boss brought home another. A single by sophomore Riley Campbell scored Ryan and a sac fly from Hansen drove home Boss.

Bettinger doubled for the Rockets' 13th extra base hit of game and scored Campbell for UT's 20th run. Toledo has not scored 20 runs or more in a game since a 27-run outburst vs. Olivet College on April 6, 2010.

Fifth-year senior Ross Achter (3-3) was good in 6.2 innings, allowing one earned on 10 hits, two walks and eight strikeouts. Cales also pitched a perfect 2.1 innings of relief in the win. Chase Antel (1-1) recorded just one out before giving up the grand slam to Montoya. He takes the loss.

The Rockets and the Falcons meet for the series rubber match tomorrow, April 9, at 1:05 p.m. at Steller Field.