East Lansing, Mich.— Toledo led Michigan State for much of the game on Wednesday, but fell behind late and couldn't recover. The Rockets ended up falling, 5-4, to the Spartans.

UT started the game about as well as one could have hoped, scoring three runs in the top of the first. Toledo extended its lead to 4-0 in the third inning, but that would be the last run for the Rockets. Michigan State scored runs in the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth innings to pull ahead and secure the victory.

Junior Ross Adolph drove in two runs on a triple in the first inning, while senior Dalton Bollinger accounted for the other two RBIs. Freshman Bryce Davis started on the mound and was fantastic, throwing four shutout innings. All told, UT used seven pitchers on Wednesday.

Next up for Toledo is a weekend series at home against the MAC's top team, Kent State. Friday's series opener is slated for a 3:05 p.m. start.

How it Happened

• The Rockets got off to a great start in the top of the first. Senior Brad Boss and freshman Trace Hatfield both walked on four pitches, then Adolph's triple rolled all the way to the fence in center field. He would score on Bollinger's sacrifice fly to give UT a 3-0 lead before Michigan State even came to the plate.
• Toledo extended its lead to 4-0 in the top of the third. Bollinger ripped an RBI single into left field, scoring Hatfield.
• Davis was terrific, throwing four scoreless innings while striking out four. It was his longest outing of the season and the third time he's tallied four punchouts.
• Michigan State found the scoreboard for the first time in the fifth inning, scoring a run on an RBI double. The inning could have been worse, but freshman Chris Meyers turned a 6-3 double play by snagging a line drive and doubling off the runner at first.
• The bottom of the sixth was trouble for Toledo. The Spartans scored twice and UT used three different pitchers to try and get out of the inning. Senior Axel Bueter was the one who got the Rockets out of danger, fielding a weak ground ball easily to end the frame.
• The Spartans tied the game at 4-4 in the seventh inning. Toledo nearly lost its lead, as MSU had the bases loaded with one out, but junior Nate Haugh came into the game and got two quick outs to stop the bleeding.
• UT had a chance to reclaim its lead in the top of the eighth. Two walks and a single loaded the bases with one out, but Toledo was unable to capitalize.
• The Rockets fell behind in the bottom of the eighth. A triple to center field allowed the runner on first to score easily and put Michigan State up, 5-4.