Rockets Begin MAC Play at Western Michigan

Friday, March 23

Kalamazoo, Mich.

3:00 p.m.

University of Toledo

Western Michigan

Michael Jacob and the rest of the Rockets begin MAC play this weekend with a three-game series at Western Michigan.

3/22/2018 8:52:00 AM | Baseball

Game Notes (PDF)

Toledo, Ohio— The Toledo baseball team begins Mid-American Conference play this weekend when it heads to Western Michigan for a three-game series.

Live stats for every game will be available here and, as always, follow along on Twitter at @ToledoBaseball for any and all updates.

Probable Starters
Friday: at Western Michigan, 3:00 p.m. (RHP Nic Laio vs. LHP Michael Jacob)
Saturday: at Western Michigan, 1:00 p.m. (LHP Jacob Piechota vs. RHP Sam Shutes)
Sunday: at Western Michigan, 1:00 p.m. (RHP Jack Szott vs. RHP Bryce Davis)

Last Time Out
Toledo defeated Cincinnati on Saturday, 13-7, but dropped contests on Friday (5-4) and Sunday (9-8).

Ross Adolph and John Servello both tallied three hits, drove in three runs, and scored three runs on Saturday. Those offensive totals were all career highs for Servello. Michael Ryan led the way with a career-high four RBIs and smacked a home run in the top of the second inning. Sam Shutes started on the mound for UT and threw 5.1 innings, striking out five. Kyle Bischoff and Nate Haugh pitched out of the bullpen for the Rockets, and both were able to keep the Cincinnati bats in check long enough for Toledo to hold on.

The losses on Friday and Sunday had similar scripts- Cincinnati scored runs in the bottom of the eighth to take the lead and hold on for the win. UT was winning, 4-3, entering the bottom of the eighth on Friday and the score was tied at 8-8 on Sunday.

Rocket Notes

For the second straight week, Toledo's home opener was canceled due to weather. This week's game against Youngstown State was rescheduled for Tuesday, May 8.
Toledo's offense has flexed its muscles the first 17 games this year. UT leads the MAC in home runs (19) and slugging percentage (.424).
John Servello hasn't been intimidated by the college game at all this season. Since the calendar rolled over to March, the rookie is leading the Rockets in batting average (.385) and hits (15).
Matt Hansen had a streak of 40 at-bats in which he didn't strike out, longest on the team this season. His streak lasted from the second game of Toledo's doubleheader at Austin Peay (2/23) through the end of the Georgia series (3/10) before striking out in his first at-bat at Cincinnati (3/16).
As of March 18, AJ Montoya has 25 career home runs, which puts him ninth in Toledo history. He is two homers away from moving into a tie for fifth place with Drew Hoisington (2005-08), and his 44 career doubles are sixth-most in school history. Also, Ross Adolph is now tied for fourth in career triples (nine) at UT with Dennis Vandercook (1983-86).
The Rockets have hit three home runs in a game three times this season: at Austin Peay (2/23), at Southeastern Louisiana (3/6), and this past Saturday at Cincinnati (3/17).
Under head coach Cory Mee, Toledo is 6-6 all-time against Youngstown State.

Adolph Named MAC Player of the Week
Junior outfielder Ross Adolph has been named Mid-American Conference Player of the Week, the league office announced Monday.

Adolph was an offensive force last weekend during Toledo's three-game series at Cincinnati. He hit .583 (7-for-12) and slugged an incredible 1.583, a figure driven by his three home runs against the Bearcats. Five of his seven hits went for extra bases and he had at least two hits in all three games this weekend. Adolph led the Rockets in hitting, slugging, on-base percentage (.667), runs scored (six), RBIs (six), and total bases (19).

Behind Adolph's power, Toledo ranks first in the MAC in home runs (19) and slugging (.424). He is hitting .333 this season with six home runs and 16 RBIs. He leads the MAC in home runs and slugging percentage (.725) through the first month of the season.

Scouting the Competition
Western Michigan owns a record of 9-9 heading into the weekend, coming off of a walk-off loss at Michigan on Wednesday. The Broncos are seventh in the MAC in scoring at 4.5 runs per game and the pitching staff has an ERA of 4.28 entering this series, third in the conference.

Individually, Connor Smith (.315, 12 RBIs) and Jimmy Roche (.314, 13 RBIs) have led the way offensively for WMU. Roche has been among the best in the league at not striking out, with just seven K's in 70 at-bats. The Broncos have a good bullpen weapon in Andrew Reisinger. The senior has made a league-high 11 appearances and owns a 1.54 ERA. He has recorded 20 strikeouts in 23.1 innings this season and is holding opposing hitters to a .214 batting average.