KENT, Ohio – The University of Toledo baseball team split its Saturday doubleheader at Kent State, winning Game Two 9-8 after dropping game one by an identical margin.
 
The Rockets grabbed an early lead in game one, but a seven-run sixth inning for the Golden Flashes flipped the script and put Toledo behind by three heading into the final frame. John Servello hit a two-run home run to pull UT within one, 9-8, but the Rockets' comeback bid would fall short. Game two nearly followed a similar script, as Toledo took a big early lead that was matched by a six-run Kent State bottom of the fifth. This time, the Rockets were able to plate the go-ahead run and hold of the Golden Flashes in the bottom of the seventh to win 9-8.
 
"Today was a wild ride," head coach Rob Reinstetle said. "Game One, we played six perfect innings but had that one rough inning where we gave up a bunch of runs. Game Two mirrored that as we cruised out to a big 8-2 lead only to see it evaporate in one inning. I give the offense a ton of credit, they just kept finding ways to score. Jordan Power again came in and shut the door to get the save in the second game. It feels good to be 2-1 heading into Sunday with a chance to win a series against a really good program."
 
In game two Chris Meyers, John Servello, and Nicky Winterstein all drove in two runs, with Winterstein providing three hits in the leadoff spot. Scott Mackiewicz and Marcus Strother provided RBI doubles and Justin Diaz scored a game-high three runs. Kyle Jones started on the mound and threw 5.2 innings, while Jamie Myers came out of the bullpen to finish the game for the Rockets.
 
Myers ended up recording his first win of the season in game two, throwing 1.1 scoreless innings, and Jordan Power notched his first save. Layne Schnitz-Paxton started and threw four innings while striking out six. At the plate, Mason Sykes drove in the winning run with a sac fly in the top of the seve3nth and ended the game going 2-for-2 with a home run and three RBIs. Danny O'Reilly and Chris Meyers also went deep in game two, tallying three and two RBIs, respectively.
 
The series between the Rockets and Golden Flashes will conclude on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
 
How it Happened (Game 1)

• Mackiewicz continued his strong series with an RBI double in the top of the second to put Toledo ahead 1-0.
• The Rockets added three more in the top of the fourth to take a 4-0 lead. Strother doubled into the gap in left-center to bring in a run, then Winterstein singled in two more to extend UT's lead to four.
• Kent State halved the Rockets' lead in the bottom of the fourth with two runs to make it 4-2.
• Meyers singled up the middle to bring home Mackiewicz and Winterstein and put Toledo on top 6-2.
• The Golden Flashes exploded for seven runs in the bottom of the sixth to take their first lead of the game at 9-6. After tying the game at 6-6, Kent State used back-to-back extra-base hits to take the lead, then a base hit into right field brought in the seventh run of the inning and put Toledo in a three-run hole.
• The Rockets did not go down without a fight. Servello launched a two-run home run in the top of the seventh to pull Toledo within one, 9-8. After the next hitter struck out, Strother walked, Winterstein reached on a base hit, and Sykes walked to load the bases with two outs. Unfortunately all three runners would end the game stranded on the bases as Kent State worked its way out of the jam to hold on and win game one.

 
 
How it Happened (Game 2)

• Meyers hit his 10^th home run of the season in the top of the first, bringing home Winterstein and putting Toledo ahead 2-0 early
• Kent State scored one in the second and one in the third to tie the score at 2-2
• Sykes hit the first pitch he saw over the fence in left field for a two-run home run in the top of the fourth, putting the Rockets up 4-2.
• Toledo extended its lead to 8-2 with a four-run fifth inning. Trace Hatfield's RBI ground ball was followed by O'Reilly's three-run home run and gave UT a six-run advantage.
• Once again, Kent State used a big inning to put itself back in the game. This time it was a six-run bottom of the fifth that tied the score at 8-8.
• Sykes drove in the game-winning run in the top of the seventh on a sac fly to bring about the 9-8 winning margin.