MACON, Ga. – Toledo wrapped up play in Mercer's Black & Orange Challenge on Sunday with a thrilling 2-1 (8 inn.) triumph over the host Bears (5-6). Senior Dayna Denner provided the decisive blow for the Rockets (3-2) with a two-out, two-run line drive over the center-field fence.

The contest was a scoreless pitcher's duel for the first seven innings with senior Erin Hunt (2-1) matching Mercer's Amber Byrd (1-3) pitch for pitch. Hunt scattered five hits, struck out eight and gave up just one unearned run in eight innings.

"Erin didn't have her best stuff but she knows how to pitch," Head Coach Joe Abraham said. "Raquel (Emery) caught a great game and we had perfect defense."

The Rockets' defense really stepped up in the bottom of the eighth when freshman LF Arika Reed snared the final out running into the fence along the foul line.

"Arika's catch was big because it came when Mercer was at the top of the order," Abraham said. "Erin just used her experience after they scored and along with the help of our defense we won the battle."

Abraham said a tight, low-scoring game like today's contest is beneficial for his team's development.

"This game was good for us, especially our freshmen," the Rockets' third-year head coach said. "It was good for everyone to feel some pressure and for our coaching staff to teach some strategic things during the course of a game."

Toledo returns to action with a trip to Leesburg, Fla. to play six games at The Spring Games on Friday-Sunday, March 5-7.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Toledo registered three hits in the first two innings but couldn't score.
• Junior Aleah Marra singled in the first and stole second but was left stranded.
• Junior Anna Dixon led off the second with a single and advanced on junior Raquel Emery's grounder up the middle.
• Emery ripped a one-out double to right-center in the fifth but the Rockets couldn't take advantage.
• Mercer put runners on second and third base with two out in the bottom of the sixth but Erin Hunt was able to get out of the jam.
• Dayna Denner plated the game's first runs in the top of the eighth with a two-run homer, her second round-tripper of the weekend.
• Elisa Rosado's one-out double in the bottom half of the inning cut Toledo's lead in half. Hunt then struck out the next batter before Arika Reed caught the final out along the left-field line.