MOREHEAD, Ky. - Five Rockets from four different classes hit home runs to lead UT to a pair of wins on the first day of the Eagle Classic at Morehead State's University Field. Toledo runs its record to 14-11 by defeating East Tennessee State, 8-5, and blanking MSU, 4-0. 

Senior Ashley Rausch, juniors Katie Cozy and Megan Choate, sophomore Morgan Paaverud and freshman Bailey Curry accounted for the Rockets' round-trippers on the day.

Toledo 8, East Tennessee State 5
The Rockets scored in each of the first five innings and hit a season-high three home runs en route to the morning win. Freshman Bailey Curry went 2-for-4, including her team-best seventh home run of the season, while sophomore Morgan Paaverud launched a pinch-hit, three-run home run. Junior Katie Cozy connected for her first HR of the year and freshman Bekah Yenrick went 2-for-4 with a pair of singles.

Junior Kailey Minarchick went the distance for her sixth win of the year. She allowed five runs, four earned, on seven hits and three walks. 

How it Happened

• Freshman Kylie Norwood walked and stole second to lead off the game and advanced to third on a ground out. Curry then delivered a two-run shot to right center on the first pitch of her at bat.
• Toledo added to its early lead in the second with a two-out rally. Junior Megan Choate was hit by a pitch and scored all the way from first on an RBI double by Norwood. 
• East Tennessee State manufactured a pair of runs in the bottom of the second on a walk, two wild pitches and two singles to bring the score to 3-2.
• After fouling a pitch off her own chin, junior Katie Cozy climbed back into the batters box after and promptly drove the next pitch over the fence for her first big fly of the season. The solo shot gave UT a 4-2 lead in the third.
• A lead off walk to sophomore Samantha Golden and a two-out walk to Norwood set the table in the Rockets' fourth. Sophomore Morgan Paaverud was called on to pinch hit and stepped up with a three-run homer to widen the margin to 7-2.
• Toledo rallied again with two outs in the top of the fifth. Golden walked and senior Ashley Rausch singled to keep the inning alive. Junior Megan Choate came up with the big hit in the inning, an RBI double to left field, to score Golden and put UT up 8-2.
• ETSU gave a last-ditch effort to manage three runs in the bottom of the fifth. The Buccaneers used three hits, two walks and two Toledo errors to pull within 8-5.
• Junior Kailey Minarchick allowed single baserunners in the final two innings, but closed out the game for the Rockets 13th win of the season. 

Toledo 4, Morehead State 0
Junior Heather Webb struck out a season-high seven batters and allowed just three hits and a pair of walks in the Rockets' shutout win over the host Eagles.

Offensively, UT struck for two runs in the fourth and added two more insurance runs in the seventh. The Rockets picked up only three hits, but capitalized on five walks and four hit batters.

How it Happened

• Webb allowed a lead off single in the first, but retired the next nine batters she faced to get through three innings. 
• Morehead State ace Chelsea McManaway entered the game with a 10-1 record and kept the Rockets out of the hit column for the opening three frames.
• Senior Ashley Rausch broke up the no-hit bid and the shutout with one swing to lead off the fourth. Her second home run of the campaign staked Toledo to a 1-0 lead. 
• Following the HR, freshman Bailey Curry was hit by a pitch, junior Katie Cozy walked and freshman Bekah Yenrick also reached via HBP to load the bases with no outs. Sophomore Morgan Paaverud walked to give Toledo its second run of the contest.
• Webb dazzled through the fourth and fifth, but ran into a bit of trouble in the sixth inning. A one-out triple by MSU gave the Eagles their best chance to score of the day. Webb induced back-to-back ground outs to Cozy at third to end the inning.
• Senior Sam Showalter walked with one out in the seventh and junior Megan Choate blasted a two-run home run over the fence in center field to secure the win for the Midnight Blue & Gold.

The Rockets take on Oakland and East Tennessee State tomorrow (March 17) in Toledo's final day of the classic. Weather permitting, UT will match up with the Golden Grizzlies at 11:00 a.m. before taking on ETSU at 3:00 p.m.