Toledo, Ohio— The Toledo baseball team survived a ninth-inning rally from Ball State in its 5-4 victory over the Cardinals on Saturday.

Originally slated for a 1:05 p.m. start, the contest didn't begin until 3:20 because of rain. Leading 5-2 entering the final inning, the Rockets surrendered a two-run, two-out single that put BSU within one. Junior Nate Haugh was unfazed, though, and struck out the final batter of the game to seal the deal for UT.

Haugh earned his fifth save of the season, pitching two innings in relief of senior Sam Shutes. Toledo's starting pitcher tossed seven innings on Saturday and struck out seven. After allowing two runs in the first inning, the Rockets' starter held the Cardinals scoreless for the remainder of his outing and did not allow a hit in his final three innings of work. Shutes earned his ninth win of the season, tied with five others for third-most in a single season at Toledo.

At the plate, senior AJ Montoya launched a solo home run in the sixth inning, the 30th of his career. He becomes the fourth player all-time in program history with at least 30 home runs, joining Dan Sherwood (35, 2008-11), Jared Hoying (34, 2008-10), and Bill Bronikowski (30, 1994-97).

Junior Ross Adolph had two hits and freshman John Servello drove in a pair of runs. Freshman Chris Meyers extended his on-base streak to 20 games, the second Rocket with a streak that long this season (Servello, 23 games).

Toledo and Ball State will conclude the  series on Sunday at 1:05 p.m.

 

How it Happened

• Ball State scored in the first inning for the second straight game. A two-run double from Seth Freed gave BSU a 2-0 lead.
• Toledo took advantage of the Cardinals' early pitching struggles by scoring three runs in the bottom of the second. Senior Matt Hansen walked with the bases loaded and Servello drove in two runs on a single to left center field. All three scores came with two outs and gave UT a 3-2 lead. Ball State's starting pitcher issued six walks in the first two innings.
• Shutes allowed the two early runs and a six hits in his first four innings of work, but settled down and held the Cardinals hitless in innings five, six, and seven. He tallied five strikeouts during that stretch as well.
• Montoya led off the sixth inning with his home run and Adolph eked a two-out single through the right side of the infield to bring in the all-important fifth run of the game.
• Ball State nearly tied the game in the top of the ninth. A leadoff single was followed by two crucial punchouts from Haugh. A two-out walk and a hit batter preceded a two-run single off the bat of Jeff Riedel that pulled the Cardinals within one, 5-4. Haugh stood tall, though, and sent down the final batter of the game on strikes.

 

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Take a look at the solo home run AJ Montoya hit in the sixth inning today! pic.twitter.com/c600twuE9l

— Toledo Baseball (@ToledoBaseball) May 12, 2018