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Danny O'Reilly at Ball State
Chris Cullum
Danny O'Reilly had three hits in Sunday's 8-7 loss at Ball State.
7
Toledo TOLEDO 4-17, 2-6 MAC
8
Winner Ball State BALL 12-9, 6-2 MAC
Toledo TOLEDO
4-17, 2-6 MAC
7
Final
8
Ball State BALL
12-9, 6-2 MAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Toledo TOLEDO 0 0 0 0 1 4 0 2 0 7 11 2
Ball State BALL 3 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 1 8 12 0

W: JOHNSON, Ty (1-1) L: McAninch, Cal (0-2)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Rockets Fall to Cardinals in Series Finale, 8-7

 
MUNCIE, Ind. – The University of Toledo baseball team capped its weekend series at Ball State with an 8-7 setback on Sunday.
 
The Rockets used a four-run top of the sixth to take their first lead of the day, but the Cardinals retook the lead with four in the bottom half of the sixth. Toledo scored two in the top of the eighth to tie the score at 7-7, but Ball State's Noah Navarro hit a walk-off home run to end the game.
 
"That was a really tough game to swallow," head coach Rob Reinstetle said. "The conditions were tough for both teams, it was cold and the wind was blowing out all game. I guess it's only fitting that the game ended on a home run. Our guys battled hard today but it just wasn't enough. We had our chances to score more runs and needed to on a day like this. We finally get to play at home next weekend and need to have a good week of practice."
 
Toledo did manage two home runs in the on Sunday, both solo shots, one from John Servello and one from Nicky Winterstein. Danny O'Reilly and Trace Hatfield both had a team-high three hits and Ryan Thompson reached base three times, tallying a base hit and two walks.
 
On the mound, Connor Brandon started the game and threw five innings while recording five strikeouts. Jack Olberding, Kyle Pijaszek, and Cal McAninch all appeared out of the bullpen for UT.
 
Toledo will host Ohio next weekend in a four-game series, the first home games for the Rockets of the 2021 season.
 
How it Happened
  • Ball State scored three in the bottom of the first to take an early lead. The Cardinals first scored on a bases-loaded walk, then a two-out single into left field drove in two more to put the Rockets in a 3-0 hole.
  • Despite the windy conditions, neither team was able to push across any more runs until the top of the fifth. Servello lifted an 0-1 pitch into the wind and over the wall in right field for a solo home run to get Toledo on the board.
  • Winterstein added a solo shot to right field in the top of the sixth to put Toledo within one, 3-2. O'Reilly later scored on a passed ball to tie the game at 3-3, then Marcus Strother scored on a ground ball to third base to give UT a 4-3 lead. Toledo added a fourth run on an RBI base hit from Hatfield to make it 5-3.
  • Ball State answered right back with four runs in the bottom half of the sixth to retake the lead. A two-run double down the line in left field tied the game at 5-5, then back-to-back RBI singles gave the Cardinals a 7-5 advantage.
  • The Rockets added two in the top of the eighth to tie the score at 7-7. Mason Sykes drove in Hatfield with a base hit into center field, and Winterstein's flyout to left was deep enough to bring in the tying run.
  • Ball State's Navarro ended the game with a walk-off home run to left field in the bottom of the ninth.
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