Akron, Ohio - The No. 7 seed Toledo Softball team continued its run of upsets with three wins today to claim the first Mid-American Conference Tournament title in program history and earn an automatic qualifier spot in the NCAA Regionals. The Rockets took down No. 1 seed Miami and swept No. 3 seed Ohio in a doubleheader today en route to claiming the title. Toledo most recently won the MAC regular-season title in 1992, but this was the first MAC Tournament crown for the program.

Toledo is the lowest seeded team in MAC Tournament history to win the title.

"I'm in a state of disbelief that we got it done," head coach Joe Abraham said. "It was a team effort, especially with pitching from Kailey and Leah today that saved Erin some innings of work. Erin was clutch for us, and all of the clutch hitting, clutch defensive plays and a big out from Sam in the sixth inning of the final game made this just an unbelievable team effort. We have a bunch of battlers. Literally one week ago we were fighting to get into the tournament. It was such a good feeling to beat Central Michigan and make it in. One week later, here we are the MAC Champions and I literally can't believe it."

Toledo claimed the title in dramatic fashion, rallying from a five-run deficit to defeat Ohio, 6-5, in today's second game to set up a winner-take-all battle with the Bobcats. That game was no contest, with the Rockets demolishing Ohio, 9-2.
 
The Rockets began the tournament with a 4-2 win over No. 2 seed Kent State on Thursday before falling 7-1 to the Bobcats on Friday. Fighting through the loser's bracket in the double elimination-style tournament, the Rockets had to defeat each of the top four seeds to come out on top. All together, Toledo outscored the competition 33-14 in its last five games.
 
The Rockets were led in the circle this week by sophomore Erin Hunt who tossed 37.1 innings with four complete games, striking out 28 batters over the four days. Her efforts earned her a spot on the All-Tournament team and she was also named the Tournaments' Most Valuable Player.
 
Hunt was joined on the All-Tournament team by seniors Katie Cozy and Kaitlyn Bergman who were offense standouts all week. Bergman went 6-for-20 with four runs, six walks, two homers, and seven RBIs while catching every game for the Rockets. Cozy went 5-for-21 with five runs, three RBIs, two homers and four walks.

The Rockets will find out their first round NCAA Regional opponent on Sunday. The NCAA Softball Selection Show will air at 9:00 p.m. on ESPN2.
 
 
MAC Tournament - Saturday's Results
Game 1: Toledo 5, Miami 0

• Toledo started the day with three victories sitting between them and history. The Rockets started the day by shutting out the RedHawks thanks to sophomore Raelyn Nyren, senior Megan Choate, and Bergman.
• Nyren opened scoring in the second by sending her first collegiate homer over the left field fence to give Toledo a 1-0 lead. Choate then followed with a two-run single to left field that made things 3-0.
• The Rockets put a stamp on their victory as Bergman hit a two-run single to bring in the final runs. Toledo out hit the RedHawks 7-3 and struck out 11 Miami batters.

 

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
UT	0	3	0	2	0	0	0	5	7	1
MIAMI	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0

W:Hunt (15-11) L:PRATT (14-7)
 
 
Game 2: Toledo 6, Ohio 5

• Game two of the day was a classic example of the underdog rallying together when it mattered most to topple the giant. Ohio opened scoring in the first with  help of back-to-back wild pitches when two runners were on, the result being a 1-0 Bobcat lead.
• After four and a half innings of a fierce pitcher's duel, Ohio jumped to a 5-0 lead in the fifth in what could only be described as Toledo blowing a tire as four runs came in off three hits and an error.
• Toledo rallied in the sixth to snap the shutout thanks to Bergman who left the park for the 11th time this season, bringing around two. Junior Morgan Paaverud then hit a timely RBI single to cut Ohio lead to 5-3.
• The Rockets came together in the top of the seventh to bring home the winning runs on a single, two errors, back-to-back walks, and a sac fly before forcing Ohio to leave one on in the bottom of the frame and force a final winner-take-all championship matchup.

 
 

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
UT	0	0	0	0	0	3	3	6	5	1
OHIO	1	0	0	0	4	0	0	5	4	3

W:Hunt, Erin (16-11) L:MCCRADY, M. (23-12)
 
 
Game 3: Toledo 9, Ohio 2

• The Rockets entered the title game with the taste of gold in their mouths, putting all nine runs on the board between the fourth and fifth innings.
• For the second consecutive contest, Ohio opened scoring in the first off a RBI single into left center.
• Another pitcher's duel commenced until the fourth inning when a double, single and failed fielder's choice squeezed in a run to tie the game. The run lit a fire under Toledo as the Rockets loaded the bases before scoring four runs on a huge single/error combo from sophomore Kylie Norwood that put the Midnight Blue and Gold up 4-1.
• Another error with two on moments later then brought in Toledo's fifth run of the frame.
• Ohio manufactured their final run of the day on a single and double in the fifth but the score wasn't enough to slow the Rockets progress as Toledo tacked on four more in the bottom of the fifth thanks to four hits and two errors.

 
 

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
OHIO	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	2	8	5
UT	0	0	0	5	4	0	X	9	12	1

W:Hunt, Erin (13-11) L:MCCRADY, M. (23-12)


Highlights from all three of Toledo's Saturday games.


Head Coach Joe Abraham post-game.
 

Senior Megan Choate post-game.