AKRON, Ohio - Brittney Davis' first career home run could not have come at a better time as the freshman connected for a walk-off two-run homer in the 10th inning to lift Toledo to an 8-6 win over Central Michigan in the first round of the Mid-American Conference Tournament. Davis' blast was the freshman's third hit of the night to go along with three RBIs.

Senior Ashley Rausch sparked the Midnight Blue and Gold by going 4-for-5 with a pair of RBIs and two runs scored from the lead-off position. Junior Katie Cozy also homered and scored a pair of runs in the win.

The Rockets advance to the winner's bracket to play No. 7 seed Northern Illinois tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. 

Toledo 8, Central Michigan 6 (10 innings)
In a closely contested game that saw five ties and five lead changes, the Rockets came out on top with a pair of runs in the bottom of the 10th inning. 

Central Michigan took an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning, only to have the Rockets battle back to take a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the second frame. CMU responded to take a 4-3 edge in the third, but junior Katie Cozy's solo home run in the bottom half tied the score at 4-4. 

Toledo regained a 5-4 advantage with a tally in the bottom of the fifth that was matched by the Chippewas in the top of the sixth. The momentum swung once more to CMU in the top of the seventh, but an RBI single in the bottom of the seventh by freshman Bekah Yenrick knotted the score at 6-6. After the first two extra innings went scoreless, freshman Brittney Davis sent the Toledo dugout into a frenzy with the game-winning blast.

How it Happened

• Toledo handed Central Michigan a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a throwing error and CMU added an RBI single to push its lead to 2-0.
• The Rockets responded to halve the deficit in the bottom of the frame. Senior Ashley Rausch started the inning with a single and stole a base. Freshman Kylie Norwood followed suit with a base hit before swiping second. Freshman Bailey Curry got the job done with a sacrifice fly to left-center to plate Rausch and make the score 2-1.
• Toledo took a 3-2 lead with a pair of runs in the second. Junior Megan Choate singled and senior Sam Showalter reached on a fielder's choice. Junior Kaitlyn Bergman was hit by a pitch to load the bases and Rausch delivered with runners on base with a two-run single up the middle.
• A second Toledo error followed by a two-run double swung the lead back in favor of the Chippewas, 4-3.
• Junior Katie Cozy knotted the game at 4-4 in the bottom of the third with a solo blast to left-center field. 
• In the fifth, freshman Bekah Yenrick reached on a fielder's choice and was lifted for junior pinch-runner Taylor Powell. Freshman Brittney Davis lined an double to right center to score Powell from first to regain the lead, 5-4.
• Central Michigan responded with a clutch two-out, RBI single to even the contest at 5-5 in the sixth and took the lead once again on an RBI triple in the top of the seventh.
• Toledo did not give in and quickly put two runners aboard on a single by Rausch and an intentional walk to Curry. Yenrick came up with the clutch hit in the inning, a base knock through the right side to score Rausch and force extra innings.
• Junior Heather Webb came on in relief to shut down CMU in the eighth, ninth and 10th innings.
• With Cozy on first base after a single, Davis worked a full count before ending the game with one swing of the bat.  

Highlights from UT's win over Central Michigan in the first round of the MAC Tournament.


Head Coach Kristen Butler post-game.