MACON, Ga. – Toledo split a pair of contests on Saturday at Mercer's Black and Orange Challenge.  The Rockets (2-2) rebounded from a 5-0 setback to Pitt (4-6) in their opening contest by exploding for a 9-1 (5 inn.) victory over Alabama A&M (1-7) in their nightcap.
 
"We just couldn't put anything together against Pitt," said Head Coach Joe Abraham about the first game of the day. "We gave them a few runs and didn't get key hits ourselves. It was just a frustrating game."
 
Freshman left fielder Arika Reed paced the Rockets offensively today with four hits, including a 3-for-3 showing against the Bulldogs. Junior second baseman Aleah Marra, sophomore first baseman Riley Mohr and sophomore center fielder Jaiden Batyik also collected two hits vs. Alabama A&M.

Abraham said the Rockets overcame frustration by scoring eight runs in the third against Alabama A&M after stranding a pair of runners on each of the first two innings.

"We just had some people bust out in that big rally and hopefully we can take that into tomorrow," Abraham said. "Arika Reed got the job done with a squeeze bunt, a sneaky bunt for a hit and great baserunning. Aleah Marra hit the ball really well, and we just started getting one clutch hit after another."

Sophomore Makenna Schmidt (1-0) picked up the victory vs. the Bulldogs, allowing three hits and one unearned run in 3.1 innings.  Senior Erin Hunt (1-1) struck out 10 in a complete-game effort against the Panthers.
 
Toledo will wrap up the tournament on Sunday with a 10:00 a.m. matchup vs. host Mercer.
 
GAME 1

• Pitt scored runs in the third and fourth innings to take a 2-0 lead.
• The Panthers took advantage of a hit-by-pitch, sacrifice bunt and single up the middle to plate the game's first run.
• Walker Barbee's homer to left increased the Rockets' deficit to 2-0
• Pitt added two runs in the sixth and one in the seventh to cap the scoring in Toledo's first game of the day. 

GAME 2 

• The Rockets exploded for eight runs in the third inning to take control.
• Toledo tallied five hits and Alabama A&M committed five errors in the game-deciding frame.
• Sophomores Macey Moore and Riley Mohr each delivered RBI singles in the uprising, while junior Aleah Marra registered a run-scoring fielder's choice.
• Mohr's RBI single up the middle in the fourth provided Toledo with its final run.