KENT, Ohio - The Toledo softball team split a Saturday doubleheader at defending Mid-American Conference champion Kent State at the Diamond at Dix. The Rockets dropped a 7-6 decision in the bottom of the seventh inning of the first game before rolling to an 11-3 win in the nightcap. 

Junior Katie Cozy drove in five runs on the day, while freshman Ebony Garza hit her first career home run and tallied four RBIs to lead the UT offense.

Kent State 7, Toledo 6
The Rockets rallied for four runs in the seventh to tie the score only to fall in walk-off fashion in the next half inning. 

Freshman Bailey Curry went 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs, while junior Katie Cozy came through with a clutch two-run double. Freshman Kylie Norwood also had an RBI double and scored a run for UT.

How it Happened

• Kent State jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the very first inning and extended the lead to 4-0 with a three-run burst in the second. All three runs in the second inning were unearned due to a costly Toledo error. 
• The Rockets cut the lead in half with two in the third. Junior Megan Choate walked and scored from first on Norwood's RBI double. Curry then followed suit with a RBI double to score Norwood.
• After two scoreless frames in the fourth and fifth, the Golden Flashes answered back with a two-run home run to regain a four point advantage, 6-2.
• It was another walk to Choate that sparked UT in the seventh. Norwood singled to left and advanced to second on the throw to put two runners in scoring position. Sophomore pinch hitter Morgan Paaverud was hit by a pitch to load the bases. 
• Curry walked to force in a run and set up Cozy's two-run double. Senior Ashley Rausch walked and freshman Bekah Yenrick capped the inning with an RBI ground out.
• Two singles and an intentional walk loaded the bases in the bottom half of the inning. Kent State ended the contest with a game-winning single to left center.

Toledo 11, Kent State 3
Toledo smacked three home runs as part of an eight-run fourth inning en route to a five-inning, run-rule victory. Freshman Ebony Garza, junior Katie Cozy and junior Megan Choate each went deep to pace the Rockets.

Junior Kailey Minarchick went the distance in the circle to earn her 10th win of the year. Minarchick scattered seven hits and allowed three runs in 5.0 innings.

How it Happened

• The Rockets got off to a hot start with a three spot in the top of the first inning. Freshman Kylie Norwood singled, stole second and scored quickly on a Kent State error.
• Freshman Bailey Curry singled and Cozy drove home Garza (reached on error) with a sacrifice fly to to center field. Senior Ashley Rausch notched a base hit to move Curry to third and an RBI ground out by freshman Bekah Yenrick closed the rally.
• Toledo's offense exploded in the fourth inning. Junior Megan Choate led off and was hit by a pitch, junior Kaitlyn Bergman walked and Norwood walked to load the bases without a hit. Garza picked the perfect time for her first career home run, a grand slam, to make the score 7-0.
• Curry singled again in front of Cozy, who blasted a two-run shot to left field. Rausch walked and Choate took advantage of her second plate appearance of the inning with a two-run homer to center field. The eight runs put the Rockets in position to end the game after the fifth inning.
• Kent State strung together four hits in the bottom of the fifth to plate three runs. The Rockets were still up by the necessary eight runs when Minarchick recorded the third out of the inning.

The Rockets and Golden Flashes meet for the rubber match of the series tomorrow (April 1) at 1:00 p.m.