MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - The Toledo softball team fell 6-2 to Central Michigan in the series opener on Friday afternoon at Margo Jonker Stadium. The loss drops the Rockets to 30-16 overall and 14-4 in Mid-American Conference action.

Central Michigan 6, Toledo 2
The Rockets took an early 1-0 advantage and later led 2-1, but could not hang on. Central Michigan scored the last five runs of the contest and capped the scoring with three runs in the bottom of the fifth.

Senior Ashley Rausch blasted a lead off home run in the top of the first inning and freshman Bailey Curry collected a pair of singles to lead the Rockets offense. Toledo outhit CMU, 8-7, but left eight runs on base on the day.

How it Happened

• Rausch's solo shot on the third pitch of the game gave Toledo to a 1-0 lead in the early stages.
• Central Michigan tied the score at 1-1 on an RBI double in the bottom of the second. 
• Toledo answered right back and regained a 2-1 edge in the top of the third. Freshman Kylie Norwood singled and stole second to lead off the frame. Norwood advanced to third on a groundout and scored on an error by the Chippewas.
•  Two two-out walks put a pair of runners on base and a double shifted the lead back to CMU at 3-2.
• Central Michigan added three runs in the bottom of the fifth on the strength of a two-run home run to put the game out of reach.
• Freshman Maggie McGurk came on in relief to throw 1.1 scoreless innings for the Rockets.

The Rockets and the Chippewas will meet tomorrow for a doubleheader at 1:00 p.m. to finish the series.