Toledo, Ohio— The Toledo baseball team was in it until the very end on Saturday, but ultimately fell to the Miami RedHawks 3-2 at Scott Park.

The Rockets held the lead for much of the game, until a two-run home run to center field gave the RedHawks a 3-2 advantage in the top of the seventh. UT had a chance to flip the script in the bottom of the ninth, putting two runners on base with two outs, but was unable to bring a run home.

Junior Layne Schnitz-Paxton gave the Rockets seven innings, striking out six and walking just one. Senior Nate Haugh kept Toledo in the game with two scoreless innings in relief. Senior Brad Boss and freshman Darryn Davis both tallied three hits to lead the Midnight Blue and Gold offensively.

The series concludes on Sunday at 11:05 a.m. at Scott Park. Originally scheduled for a 1:05 p.m. start, the game time was moved up two hours due to potential afternoon rain in the area.

How it Happened

• Toledo got on the board early, scoring two runs in the bottom of the second, both of which came on bases-loaded walks. The first three batters of the inning reached to load the bases, an opportunity UT nearly squandered after two straight outs. But Boss and freshman Thomas Eitniear both walked to bring in runs and give Toledo a 2-0 lead.
• Miami got one of those runs back in the top of the third on a passed ball, making the score 2-1.
• The Rockets' defense came to play on Saturday, with highlights being a smooth inning-ending double play in the fourth and a terrific running catch by sophomore John Servello in the sixth.
• The big swing came in the top of the seventh, when a two-run RedHawk home run sailed over the fence in center field to put UT in a 3-2 hole.
• The Rockets kept the deficit to one run thanks to a strike 'em out, throw 'em out double play in the top of the ninth to end the inning.
• The bottom of the ninth was a wild one for Toledo. After leadoff walk by senior Riley Campbell, Eitniear laid down a textbook sacrifice bunt. Campbell kept running around second, trying to make it to an unoccupied third base, but the RedHawks were able to cover the bag in just enough time for the unconventional double play.
• A blooper down the left field line turned into a double for Boss, and Servello walked to put two runners on base with two outs. The Rockets were unable to push another run across, however, and the final score stood at 3-2.