TOLEDO, Ohio— The University of Toledo baseball team opens its 2020 season at East Tennessee State this weekend with a three-game series.
Live Stats links and Friday's live stream link can be found below. First pitch for Friday's game has been bumped up  to 2:00 p.m., a change that was made on Thursday morning to get ahead of expected inclement weather. Saturday's contest will begin at 2:00 p.m., and Sunday's series finale will start at 1:00 p.m. As always, follow along on Twitter at @ToledoBaseball for any and all updates.
Probable Starters
Friday: Live Stats | Watch | RHP Landon Knack vs. RHP Layne Schnitz-Paxton
Saturday: Live Stats | RHP Zach Kirby vs. LHP Nicky Winterstein
Sunday: Live Stats | RHP Hunter Loyd vs. RHP Jordan Power
Rob Reinstetle Picked to Lead Rockets
The 2020 season will be the first for head coach Rob Reinstetle, who became the 12th skipper in program history this past summer. Reinstetle came to Toledo from Western Kentucky, where he had been an assistant coach for four seasons. He is joined on the coaching staff by Nick McIntyre, entering his 12th season with the Rockets, and first-year coaches Tommy Winterstein and Sean Repay.
Rocket Notes
- Toledo was a young team in 2019. Of the 1,808 at-bats taken by Rocket hitters last season, 79% of them were taken by underclassmen.
- Reinstetle spearheaded several facilities upgrades over the course of the fall and winter, including a newly-renovated dugout and rebuilt pitching mounds at Scott Park.
- Toledo's 2020 home opener is Tuesday, March 17 against Youngstown State. The Midnight Blue and Gold will play 20 games at Scott Park this season.
- The Rockets return three of their top five hitters from a year ago: sophomore Darryn Davis (.329, 33 RBIs), junior John Servello (.302, 12 doubles), and junior Chris Meyers (.292, 20 extra-base hits, 31 walks).
Newcomers
Toledo has 18 newcomers on its roster for 2020, including seven freshmen. Matt Benavidez, Lorenzo DeBrecht, Chipper Holland, Wyatt Jefferson, Matt Kirk, Wyatt O'Brien, Danny O'Reilly, Jordan Power, Sam Prince, Sam Servello, and Nicky Winterstein all join the program as transfers from other schools. Connor Brandon, Yassir Kahook, Connor O'Donnell, Sam Seeker, Spencer Stanton, Trey Wright, and Jason Young are all true freshmen with the Rockets this season.
Scouting the Competition
East Tennessee State was picked to finish fourth in the Southern Conference preseason coaches' poll after finishing 34-21 (11-12) a season ago. Three players earned spots on the preseason all-conference teams, including first-teamer and starting catcher Jackson Greer. Friday starter Landon Knack and relief pitcher Nathaniel Tate were named to the second team. Greer was one of the best hitters on the team in 2019, hitting .314 with 10 home runs and 42 RBIs while throwing out 12 runners from behind the plate.
