KENT, Ohio – The Toledo softball team pulled out an emotional 15-10 (12 inn.) victory at Kent State in Game 1 of a doubleheader on Sunday afternoon before falling in the nightcap by an 8-0 margin.
The Rockets (11-9, 1-3 MAC) had an opportunity to win the opener in regulation when they took a 9-3 lead thanks to a five-run fifth that featured freshman Jenna Kroll's grand slam. The Golden Flashes (6-11, 3-1 MAC) rallied to tie the score, though, with five runs in their half of the fifth and one more in the six. Three of KSU's runs were unearned after a dropped foul ball.

Senior Dayna Denner's second homer of the game put UT ahead 10-9 in the 10^th, however, KSU's Madyson Cole responded with a solo homer in the bottom of the frame.

Toledo put the game away with a five-run uprising in the 12^th as sophomore Leah Munson provided the Rockets the lead for good with a two-run blast. Junior Anna Dixon and sophomore Riley Mohr provided insurance runs later in the inning with an RBI single and two-run double, respectively.

"There were so many times we had to bounce back mentally during the first game," Head Coach Joe Abraham said. "It was a fun day and showed how strong we can be as a team. Losing a six-run lead the way we did by giving them two extra outs was a major downer, and when that happens it can be tough to regain your focus. There were also times in extras when Kent State had the winning run in scoring position, but we responded to that adversity."

Senior Erin Hunt picked up the victory for Toledo in Game One with 6.2 innings of one-run relief.

Kent State jumped on Hunt and the Rockets immediately in Game Two with a five-run first.

"We were in a tough spot in the second game after the emotionally-draining opener," Abraham said. "Our plan was for Erin to start the second game entering the day. She was throwing well and felt good, so we decided to stay with our plan. It was hard for us to recover after getting down 5-0 in the first against a rested Jessica LeBeau."

The Rockets could only muster three hits against LeBeau (4-5) and were shut out for just the second time this season.

Toledo will hit the road again next weekend when it travels to Western New York to face Buffalo in a four-game series on Friday-Sunday, March 26-28.

GAME 1

• Dayna Denner provided the Rockets a 1-0 lead in the first with a homer to center.
• Macey Moore clubbed another home run to put Toledo in front 2-0 in the second.
• Kent State took advantage of a Rocket error to score three runs (two unearned) in the third for a 3-2 lead.
• Toledo was the beneficiary of three walks, a wild pitch and a Golden Flash miscue during a two-run fourth to move back in front.
• Jenna Kroll's grand slam highlighted a five-run fifth that gave the Rockets a 9-3 cushion.
• Kent State also plated five runs in its half of the fifth with all of the scoring coming after two were out. Alexis Taube and Carlee Selle each notched run-scoring singles before scoring on Megan Turner's three-run homer.
• The Golden Flashed knotted the score at 9-9 on Brooklyn Whitt's RBI single to center.
• Toledo loaded the bases with nobody out in the eighth but couldn't capitalize.
• Kent State placed runners in scoring position in the eighth and ninth but came up empty
• Denner blasted her second solo shot of the game for a 10-9 lead with two out in the 10^th, but the Golden Flashes' Madyson Cole answered with a leadoff homer in the bottom of the frame.
• Kroll opened the 12^th with a single and scored on Leah Munson's two-run homer to right. Anna Dixon's RBI single increased UT's lead to three, and sophomore Riley Mohr's two-run double accounted for the game's final runs.

GAME TWO

• Kent State loaded the bases with two hits and a walk in the first and score its first run on a squeeze bunt.
• Following a base on balls, Selle singled up the middle to score two runs for a 3-0 lead. The Golden Flashes then added two more runs on RBI singles.
• KSU scored one run in the third and two more in the fourth for the final margin of victory.