KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Toledo softball team (9-8) put up a strong fight against Tennessee (12-8) in its first game on Saturday but ultimately fell 10-9 in nine innings. Junior Dayna Denner led the Rockets with four hits, two RBIs and a homer. The Rockets fell to Stanford (22-3), 14-1, in five innings. Freshman Rebecca Cottrell recorded her first career hit against the Cardinal with a solo home run in the top of the fifth.

GAME ONE
Toledo gave Tennessee one of its best battles of the season by extending the Lady Vols to their first extra-inning game. Junior Dayna Denner was an offensive rock for the Rockets, finishing at 4-for-5 with one home run, two RBIs and two runs scored. Senior Morgan Paaverud also excelled at the plate by slugging her third home run of the season and collecting a double and single. Junior Erin Hunt was handed her second loss of the season, allowing 14 hits over 8.1 innings and fanning 11 batters.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Junior Dayna Denner blasted her fourth home run to lead off the top of the fourth to give the Rockets a 1-0 lead over the Lady Vols. Senior Morgan Paaverud came up to the plate two batters later and ripped one over the fence herself to extend the lead to 2-0.
• The Rockets continued their success in the fifth inning, as freshman Macey Moore stepped in and ripped an infield single to second base to plate Rebecca Cottrell.
• Tennessee evened the game in the bottom of the fifth on Ally Shipman's bases-clearing double to right field.
• In the top of the sixth, Denner hit a hard single to shortstop to bring home sophomore Raquel Emery and give Toledo back the lead, 4-3.
• Tennessee's Amanda Ayala gave the Lady Vols their first lead at 5-4 with a two-out two-run double to center in the bottom of the sixth. Hunt was able to get out the inning without any more damage by getting the next batter to pop out to first.
• The Rockets rallied in the top of the seventh to take the lead. Taylor Weekly took advantage of a wild pitch with two out and scored to knot the contest at 5-5. Sophomore Raquel Emery then came through with an RBI single to put Toledo ahead.
• After Tennessee tied the score in the bottom of the frame, Toledo scored three in the top of the eighth for a 9-6 lead. Paaverud began the scoring with an RBI double, and freshman Lily Beyer brought in two more with single up the middle.
• Unfortunately for the Rockets, the Lady Vols tied it up in the bottom half before Dayna Denner made a crucial catch with two outs to keep the score tied.
• Toledo put two runners on base in the ninth, but Tennessee secured the win on Josie Willingham's sacrifice fly to left field.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs	Hits	Errors
Toledo	0	0	0	2	1	1	2	3	0	9	12	1
UT	0	0	0	0	3	2	1	3	1	10	14	3

Win – Anna Hazelwood (1-0)      Loss – Erin Hunt (7-2)

GAME TWO
The Rockets fell 14-1 against arguably one of the best defenses in the nation. Freshman Rebecca Cottrell registered her first collegiate hit – a solo home run in the top of the fifth to score the Rockets' only run against the Cardinal.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Stanford plated five runs in the the first to take an early lead over the Rockets.
• The Cardinal added six runs the next inning to extend their lead to 11-0.
• Toledo was able to hold Stanford scoreless in the third inning, but the Cardinal added three more runs in the fourth to seal the win.
• With one out in the top of the fifth inning, Cottrell stepped up to the plate ready to go. With a 1-2 count, Cottrell knocked a dinger to the outfield bleachers – bringing in the Rockets only run in the game.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs	Hits	Errors
Toledo	0	0	0	0	1	X	X	1	3	2
Stanford	5	6	0	3	X	X	X	14	14	0