Toledo, Ohio - The Toledo softball team hosts Central Michigan at Scott Park this weekend in the final series of the regular season. Toledo and CMU are scheduled to play three games, with first pitch on Friday coming at 3:00 p.m. followed by a 1:00 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday. This weekend is also Senior Weekend, as the Rockets will honor five graduating seniors ahead of the Saturday's twin bill.
 
The Rockets' seniors include: Megan Choate, Katie Cozy, Heather Webb, Kailey Minarchick and Kaitlyn Bergman.
 
"Katie, Megan and Berg have all had outstanding seasons and I'm nearly certain they're all having the best seasons of their careers," head coach Joe Abraham said. "On top of that, Heather and Kailey were critical during last year's championship run, and they've both had really good careers as well. We have five seniors who have made an invaluable contribution both on and off the field to the program, so their legacy will live on here. They're going to be very difficult to replace."
 
Due to possible inclement weather, fans are strongly encouraged to check UTRockets.com and @ToledoSoftball on Twitter for the status of the games prior to first pitch each day.
 
Toledo vs. Central Michigan
May 3-4
Scott Park
Weekend Live Stats
ESPN+ Links: Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3
Toledo Game Notes
 
Postseason Preview:
The top eight teams in the Mid-American Conference make it into the conference tournament. Toledo is currently seventh (8-8 MAC, .500) over eighth-place Western Michigan (8-9 MAC, 471) and ninth-place Buffalo (6-7-1 MAC, .464); 10th-place Bowling Green and 11th-place Akron are both mathematically eliminated. The easiest way for Toledo to clinch a postseason berth would be to sweep the weekend series. Assuming all three games for each team are played, here's how Toledo can qualify for postseason play.
 
If Toledo sweeps Central Michigan: Rockets would clinch a postseason berth.
If Toledo wins two of three vs. CMU: The Rockets would be in unless both WMU and UB swept their respective series.
If Toledo wins one of three: The Rockets would be in unless both WMU and UB would each need at least two wins.
If Toledo gets swept: WMU and UB would both need at least one win to bump Toledo out of the playoffs.
 
Despite the tight rankings at the end of the season, Abraham is focused as ever and giving his players a simple message heading into the final series: "It's just to stay even keel. Let's go out there ready to score some runs, play our game, get three wins, and take care of our own business instead of worrying about Western Michigan and Buffalo."
 
Last Time Out
The Rockets are coming off a 2-1 weekend series against Western Michigan where 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. Choate hit her 12th career homer in the latter contest to tie for eighth-most in a Toledo career. The Rockets saw big outings from freshman Aubrey Reed and junior Samantha Golden in game two of the series as both batters went 2-for-3 with one run and three RBIs; Golden also hit the second homer of her career. Choate and Cozy extended their hitting streaks to five games too before Choate's was snapped, and both have also reached base in their last 10 outings.
 
Last time against the Chippewas
Toledo and CMU last saw each other in the 2018 MAC Tournament where the Rockets took down the Chippewas in the opening game, winning 8-6 in 10 innings thanks to a strong outing from Webb and a walk-off two run homer from Brittney Davis.
 
Toledo went 1-2 against CMU in the regular season, the lone win being a 8-0 sixth inning shutout that moved Minarchick to 17-4 on the season thanks to impressive outings from Morgan Paaverud and Ashley Rausch.
 
 
Scouting Toledo
All-time record vs Dayton: 32-69
2018 record and RPI: 35-23, 16-7 MAC | 120
2019 record and RPI: 21-24, 8-8 MAC | 153
Top pitchers:

• Erin Hunt (10-11), 2.70 ERA, 132.1 IP, 103 H, 63 R, 51 ER, 69 BB, 147 SO, .215 Opp. b/avg
• Maggie McGurk (8-3), 2.94 ERA, 62.0 IP, 81 H, 38 R, 26 ER, 23 BB, 33 SO, .314 Opp. b/avg

Top batters:

• Katie Cozy (51-for-152, .336), 20 R, 12 2B, 6 HR, 30 RBI, 81 TB, 10 BB, .533 SLG%, .389 OBP
• Kylie Norwood (52-for-157, .331), 35 R, 14 2B, 3 HR, 24 RBI, 75 TB, 14 BB, .478 SLG%, .398 OBP

Batters over .300: Four
Team Slash Line: .269/.369/.401
 
   
Scouting Central Michigan
2018 record and RPI: 22-26, 12-11 MAC | 141
2019 record and RPI: 20-24-1, 10-7-1 MAC | 151
Top pitcher:

• Kaitlyn Bean (8-6), 3.76 ERA, 102.1 IP, 118 H, 64 R, 55 ER, 38 BB, 69 SO, .286 Opp. b/avg

Top batter:

• Erika Underwood (45-for-126, .357), 19 R, 9 2B, 7 HR, 29 RBI, 77 TB, 22 BB, .611 SLG%, .461 OBP

Batters over .300: Three
Team Slash Line: .260/.334/.386