Toledo, Ohio— The Toledo baseball team showed a flair for the dramatic on Friday, scoring three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to defeat Northern Illinois by a score of 5-4.

The Rockets scored twice in the bottom of the first to take an early lead, and junior starting pitcher Doug Smith was dealing through the first four innings. NIU scored runs in the fifth, sixth, and seventh to take the lead, then sophomore Chris Meyers tied the game at 4-4 with his sixth home run of the season, a two-run shot. With two runners on base, sophomore Drew Compton lined a single into the gap that scored sophomore Zach Schwartzenberger and put the Rockets out in front, 5-4. Junior Austin Calopietro finished the job by pitching a scoreless ninth, notching his first save of the year.

Smith threw six innings on Friday, allowing two runs and striking out six while sophomore Bryce Davis earned his first win of the season after putting in two innings on the mound. Meyers led the way at the plate, going 2-for-3 with three RBIs and the game-tying home run. Compton drove in the winning run and fellow sophomore Trace Hatfield also brought home a run for the Rockets. Sophomore Zach Schwartzenberger went 2-for-3.

Toledo and Northern Illinois will meet again on Saturday at 1:05 p.m. at Scott Park.

How it Happened

• Toledo scored twice in the bottom of the first to take an early lead. Davis reached on an error and Boss reached on a double to right field, and both later came around to score to put the Rockets ahead, 2-0.
• NIU scored its first run of the game in the top of the fifth courtesy of a Toledo error, making the score 2-1. A sacrifice bunt attempt for the Huskies ended with the runner on first coming around the score and the hitter reaching second base after an errant throw.
• The Huskies tied it up at 2-2 with a sacrifice fly in the top of the sixth. NIU had the bases loaded with no outs, but the Rockets were able to hold them to just the one run. Boss made a spectacular diving catch to highlight the Toledo defensive effort in the sixth, and Smith maneuvered his way out of a bases-loaded jam while allowing just the one run.
• The Huskies took their first lead of the day with two runs in the seventh. An RBI double brought in the go-ahead score, then a double steal with runners at the corners made it 4-2.
• Meyers launched the first pitch he saw in the bottom of the seventh over the fence in left-center field to tie the game at 4-4.
• A few batters later, Compton's line drive single into the gap in right-center field brought home Schwartzenberger and put Toledo back on top, 5-4.

 
Head Coach Cory Mee