Toledo, Ohio - The Toledo softball team split a Saturday doubleheader with Central Michigan, winning the first game of the day, 3-2, before falling, 6-2, in the nightcap. The Rockets celebrated their five seniors prior to first pitch, and capped off the day with the news that they had officially earned a spot in the Mid-American Conference postseason tournament thanks to ninth-place Buffalo being swept.
 
Seniors Megan Choate, Kaitlyn Bergman and Heather Webb all had good days. Choate recorded two hits and her fifth homer of the season, while Bergman went 3-for-6 and notched her eighth dinger of the year, scoring two in the process. Webb had a 5.1 inning no-hitter going in game one en route to her second win of the season.
 
How it happened:
Game 1: Toledo 3, Central Michigan 2 
Both teams came ready to play in an exciting series opener that saw Webb start with five innings of no-hit ball while tallying seven strikeouts. The Rockets forced CMU to leave 11 runners on base while squeezing out three runs on six hits.
 

• The Chippewas looked to do damage early on as the leadoff batter was walked on seven pitches before being caught stealing. CMU then saw two more batters get a free base on balls before Toledo was able to work the final out.
• The Rockets came to the plate ready as well, as sophomore Kylie Norwood and Bergman both singled in their first at-bats. Three foulouts left them both on the bags though to close out the opening frame.
• CMU opened scoring in the third inning off some perfectly executed place patience and a Toledo error. After the first batter grounded out, the second was HBP and the third was walked to put two on. The Chippewas then went for the double steal, and the chance turned into the opening run as Norwood wasn't able to pull down a throw from Bergman at third that gave the runner enough time to slip home.
• The Rockets tied things up in the bottom of the frame thanks to Choate's solo homer, her fifth the season and 13th of her career. With the hit, Choate is now tied with Valerie Maxim (2006-08) for eighth-most homers in a Toledo career.
• After dealing down the side in the top of the fourth, the Midnight Blue and Gold took the lead in the bottom of the inning. Singles from Bergman and sophomore Bekah Yenrick and a sac bunt from freshman Aubrey Reed put runners in scoring position with one out. Junior Morgan Paaverud then hit a sac bunt of her own that scored one to put the Rockets up 2-1.
• Toledo's final run of the day came in the bottom of the fifth as sophomore Ami Ill hit a leadoff triple up the middle. She was then brought home as Norwood popped a sac fly in deep left center.
• Central Michigan came close to upsetting the Rockets in the final inning as a single, a walk and a hit batter loaded the bases with one out. Senior Katie Cozy caught a foul fly to add another out to the board and set up her side to leave the inning unscathed, but a second HBP in the inning would bring the score to 3-2 Toledo. With sophomore Erin Hunt in the circle after relieving Webb in the sixth, Toledo celebrated a morning win as the final batter went down swinging on four pitches.

 
 

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

W: Webb, Heather (2-4)         L: Kaitlyn Bean (8-7)   S: Hunt, Erin (2)
 
 
 
Game 2: Central Michigan 6, Toledo 2
The nightcap saw momentum shift in the Chippewas' favor as the Maroon and Gold would take the lead in the opening inning and never relinquish it. Toledo was out-hit 11-6 in game two but strong performances from pitcher Kailey Minarchick and Leah Allison, along with a collective defensive effort would help to limit the damage.
 

• After the leadoff batter flew out, CMU would take a 3-0 lead thanks to a single and back-to-back home runs from Erika Underwood and Rachel Vieira.
• Toledo answered in the bottom of the frame as Bergman hit a two-run dinger over left field to score herself and Choate and make things 3-2 CMU. The runs would be Toledo's only of the game though as the Rockets were shut out from there.
• The game settled down a bit for two innings as both sides went down without much noise until the fourth inning when CMU added a fourth run on a double-single combo that was aided by an E5 that ultimately brought in the insurance run.
• The Rockets couldn't make anything happen in their next turn at the plate, and saw the board read 5-2 in the fifth as left field pop allowed a fifth runner to come home.
• The closest Toledo came to scoring was in the bottom of the fifth frame when Ill reached on a fielder's choice and then proceeded to steal second. She was left there though as Norwood popped up to the six spot and Choate grounded out.
• The Chippewas' final run of the day came in the seventh when three singles brought around Vieira and made things 6-2 CMU. The Rockets would see a batter walk on in the seventh but she was left there to close out the game.

 
 

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
CMU	3	0	0	1	1	0	1	6	11	0
UT	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	5	2

W: Samantha Howell (7-8)     L: Minarchick, Kailey (2-7)
 
 
Up Next:
Toledo and Central Michigan close out the series Sunday morning at 11:00 a.m. at Scott Park. A live stream of the game will not be available.