Toledo, Ohio - The Toledo softball team (21-23) won two games against Western Michigan (15-23, 7-9 MAC) today to clinch the series, move to 8-7 in Mid-American Conference play, and establish a five-game winning streak. Toledo won 1-0 in game one and 8-4 in the nightcap as sophomores Erin Hunt and Maggie McGurk recorded their respective 10th and eighth wins. Senior Megan Choate hit her 12th career homer in the latter contest to tie for eighth-most in a Toledo career.
 
While the first game of the day was a pitchers' duel, the Rockets saw big outings from freshman Aubrey Reed and junior Samantha Golden in Game Two, as both batters went 2-for-3 with one run and three RBIs. Choate and fellow senior Katie Cozy extended their hitting streaks to five games today too, and both have also reached base in their last nine outings.
 
How it happened:
Game 1:

• Toledo opened scoring early, putting the winning run on the board in the first inning. The Rockets loaded the bases as sophomore Kylie Norwood hit a leadoff single, Cozy doubled in the three spot, and senior Kaitlyn Bergman walked on four-straight balls. With two outs on the board, WMU's Jordan Kurth threw a ball that passed her catcher that allowed Norwood to score. Reed then walked to reload the bases but all three were left on the bags as the final batter grounded out.
• Toledo's defense went lights out from there on as they only allowed two total hits for the rest of the game: A single in the second and a double in the seventh.
• The closest WMU ever got to breaking the shutout was in the final frame where they worked two runners on the bags. After Hunt tied up the leadoff batter, sophomore Bekah Yenrick pulled down a right field fly to setup the UT victory. Western's Jenna Faultersack had other thoughts though as she doubled to right center. After a pinch runner came on, the tying run moved to third on a passed ball and the go ahead run was walked to first, a result of heavy rain coming down and challenging Hunt's grip.
• After a 30 rain minute delay, Sydney Sobeski stepped up looking to do damage but she was unsuccessful as Hunt tied her up in five pitches. Hunt ended the game with eight Ks and three walks. The contest was the sixth time this season the Dansville, Mich. native has struckout at least eight batters.

 
 

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Western Michigan	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	1
Toledo	1	0	0	0	0	0	X	1	4	0

W: Hunt, Erin (10-10)              L:KURTH (3-6)
 
 
 
Game 2:

• Toledo opened scoring for the fourth-straight game as the Rockets banged out five runs in the opening frame after dealing away the Broncos in order. Mirroring game one, Norwood started with a single and Cozy doubled while Bergman was HBP to load the bags. WMU then walked Yenrick to score a free run in Toledo's favor. Reed then earned her first hit of the day as she singled up the gut to bring around two and put Toledo up 3-0. Golden then stepped into the batter's box and knocked a double to right center to bring around two more before the final out was made.
•  The Rockets worked three groundouts but gave up a single in the second inning to set up another frame of scoring. After Norwood grounded out to second, Choate swaggered up and hit her fourth homer of the season over the right field fence to bring the score to 6-0 Toledo. Choate's homer moved her into a tie for eighth-most in a Toledo career, matching Jessica Lemieux (2013-16).
• The Broncos finally earned their first run of the day in the third when Erin Barg made contact with runners on second and third. Barg hit a chopper to Cozy at third but the senior elected to get the out at first instead of trying to stop the run from scoring. WMU left the final runner on the bases though as the next batter grounded out to Cozy.
• The Rockets came back in the bottom to once again increase their lead. Following back-to-back flyouts, Golden swung at the third pitch she saw and left the park for her second career homer.
• In the fifth, the Broncos managed to manufacture a pair of runs as Sophia Ehlers, Mackenzie Swinehart and Barg loaded the bases on two singles and an E5. Jenna Faultersack then singled down the right field line to bring in one, and a fielder's choice allowed another to come in to cut Toledo's lead to 7-3.
• The Rockets' final run came in the bottom of the fifth as Reed hit a one-on double to left field to score the runner on second.
• Things got hairy in the sixth as WMU was able to put runners on first and second with back-to-back inning-opening singles. After a pitching change that saw Hunt relieve McGurk, the Broncos loaded the bases thanks to a HBP and earned a free run as Hunt walked Swinehart. The frame came to a close as Barg popped up to the shortstop and Hunt tied up Faultersack, closing the inning at 8-4 Toledo and leaving three Broncos on the bases.
• Toledo saw sophomore Ami Ill reach on a single over the six spot in the sixth but she was left there after three grounders. Western Michigan then mirrored Toledo's inning, putting one on with a single but going down on three fly outs to end the contest.

 

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Western Michigan	0	0	1	0	2	1	0	4	11	0
Toledo	5	1	1	0	1	0	X	8	9	1

W:McGurk, Maggie (8-3)       L:STEFANICK (8-8)   S:Hunt, Erin (1)
 
 
Up Next
Toledo and Western Michigan close out the series at noon tomorrow. The game will be available to live stream on ESPN+, and fans are encouraged to check @ToledoSoftball on Twitter before leaving home in case of a possible weather delay.