Kissimmee, Fla.— The Toledo baseball team split its Saturday doubleheader with Bucknell, falling 8-7 in game one before coming back to win game two, 15-6. The two teams played at Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee, Fla.

Bucknell took an early 2-0 lead in the second inning, but Toledo tied it up in the top of the third. The Bison then scored three runs in the third and two in the fourth, and UT was unable to match the BU's offensive production. The Rockets scored once in the eighth and once in the ninth, but it was too little too late.

Game two was a different story, with Toledo scoring in each of the first six innings to overpower the Bison. Bucknell was able to push six runs across, but couldn't keep up with the Rocket bats. Senior Brad Boss had a fantastic game, going 3-for-3 with six RBIs, two walks, and a three-run home run. He is the second UT player to tally six RBIs on this road trip (sophomore John Servello, 3/2 at Davidson). The 15 runs are a season high for Toledo.

The Rockets and Bison will play on Sunday at 10:30 a.m., the final game of UT's spring break trip.

Game One: Bucknell 8, Toledo 7

UT and BU were tied at 2-2 entering the bottom of the third, but two RBI singles and a wild pitch brought in three Bison runs. They would tack on two more in the fourth to take a 7-2 lead over the Rockets. Toledo plated three in the top of the fifth and another in the top of the eighth to pull within one, 7-6, but Bucknell added a crucial insurance run in the bottom half of the eighth. Toledo pulled within one run in the top of the ninth, but would not get any closer and fall 8-7.

Boss and sophomore Chris Meyers both tallied two hits and scored twice in game one. Senior Michael Jacob threw seven innings and struck out 10, and junior Austin Calopietro pitched the eighth inning for UT.

How it Happened

• Bucknell got the scoring started with a two-run double in the bottom of the second.
• Toledo tied it up in the top of the third. Sophomore John Servello laced an RBI single to left field, and Boss later scored courtesy of a Bison fielding error.
• Bucknell scored three runs in the third and two in the fifth to jump up 7-2 on UT. A pair of RBI singles, a sac fly, and two pitches that found the backstop were the culprits in innings three and four.
• The Rockets benefitted from some rough Bison pitching in the fifth frame. Two bases-loaded hit by pitches and a bases-loaded walk put the Midnight Blue and Gold back in business and only trailing by two, 7-5.
• A fielding error by the BU shortstop allowed senior Riley Campbell to score in the top of the eighth and pull Toledo within a run, 7-6.
• The Bison got that run back in the bottom of the eighth on a two-out, RBI infield single.
• The Rockets had a chance to come back in the top of the ninth. Freshman Darryn Davis laid down a sacrifice bunt, but the pitcher's throw airmailed the first baseman and allowed Meyers to score to make it 8-7. UT would not be able to complete the comeback, however, and that score held as the final.

 
Game Two: Toledo 15, Bucknell 6

Toledo scored all of its runs in the first six innings, scoring at least once in each frame and capping off that streak with a five-run sixth inning. Boss was terrific, driving in six of the Rockets' runs and reaching base five times. Schwartzenberger drove in three runs and freshman Ryan Thompson drove in two. Junior Doug Smith earned his first win as a Rocket, throwing six innings and allowing just two runs. Freshmen Kyle Jones and Aric McAtee both pitched as well, with McAtee contributing two shutout frames.

How it Happened

• Schwartzenberger tallied a two-run single to kick things off in the bottom of the first, getting the Rockets started off on the right foot after losing game one.
• Boss launched a moon shot to right field in the bottom of the third, making the score 5-0 on his three-run home run.
• Campbell's infield single in the bottom of the third extended Toledo's lead to 6-0.
• Bucknell scored its first run of the game on a crazy play in the top of the fourth. A single to right field scored one run, but Servello threw out the second runner trying to score. Freshman catcher Mark Mohnickey then fired down to second base and nabbed the hitter trying to advance an extra base. The unorthodox double play limited the Bison to just one run in the inning.
• Toledo scored three in the bottom of the fourth. Meyers singled in Boss, then Servello scampered home on a wild pitch. Schwartzenberger drove in Meyers with a sacrifice fly to left field to cap the scoring and put UT up 9-1.
• Both teams scored a run in the fifth inning on RBI singles, with Boss accounting for UT's run-scoring hit.
• Toledo's big inning was the sixth, during which it scored five runs to take a commanding 15-2 lead. Thompson clobbered a bases-loaded double to left field that scored two, and freshman Thomas Eitniear hustled out a possible double play ball that allowed Schwartzenberger to score. Boss capped his excellent game with a two-run double.
• Bucknell scored once in the seventh and three times in the eighth to bring the score to 15-6. All four runs came on RBI base hits.

 
 
Head Coach Cory Mee