Rockets Back in Action with Home Series against WMU

Friday, April 30

Toledo, Ohio

3:00 PM

University of Toledo

Western Michigan

Toledo is 9-1 in its last 10 games, and Danny O'Reilly has been a big part of that success. The Portland, Ore. native is hitting .341 with five home runs and 18 RBIs in his last 10 games.

Photo by: Ross Achter

Rockets Back in Action with Home Series against WMU

4/29/2021 11:47:00 AM | Baseball

Game Notes (PDF)

TOLEDO, Ohio – The University of Toledo baseball team will look to stay hot this weekend when it hosts Western Michigan for four games at Scott Park.

The Rockets (13-20, 11-9 MAC) have won six in a row and nine of their last 10 entering this weekend's series with the Broncos. Friday's opener will begin at 3:00 p.m., and a seven-inning doubleheader starting at Noon will follow on Saturday. The series will wrap with a 1:00 p.m. contest on Sunday. All four games will be available on ESPN+ and fans can also follow along on Twitter at @ToledoBaseball.

Makeup Dates for Toledo-Eastern Michigan Series Announced
The original four-game series scheduled for April 23-25 was postponed due to positive COVID-19 tests within EMU's program and subsequent contact tracing. The Rockets and Eagles will face off in Ypsilanti on three consecutive Tuesdays. A single nine-inning game will be played on Tuesday, May 4 at 6:00 p.m., followed by a seven-inning doubleheader on Tuesday, May 11 beginning at 3:00 p.m., and lastly a nine-inning contest on Tuesday, May 18 at 6:00 p.m.

Last Time Out
Toledo did not play last weekend due to COVID-19 issues with Eastern Michigan's roster, causing the series between the Rockets and Eagles to be postponed.
The last time Toledo took the field was at home against Akron on April 16-18. The Rockets swept that series by winning game one 6-1, game two 7-0, game three 12-4, and capping the weekend with a 12-2 run-rule victory in game four.

Rocket Notes

Toledo dominated Akron during their weekend series, outscoring the Zips 37-7 over the course of four games. Trace Hatfield was 9-for-15 with two home runs and eight RBIs, and Danny O'Reilly hit .353 with nine RBIs. Chris Meyers hit .545 with four extra-base hits and seven walks.
Toledo's 39 home runs as a team are the most in the MAC, nine ahead of second-place Kent State (30).
The Rockets are one of the best slugging teams around, ranking 33^rd in the country in slugging percentage (.461).
Chris Meyers currently ranks in the Top 20 nationally in three categories: slugging percentage (4^th, .826), home runs (13^th, 12) and on-base percentage (17^th, .510).
Meyers leads the MAC in all of those categories as well as batting average (.383) RBI (37), doubles (13), and hits (44) while ranking fifth in runs scored (31) and walks (24).
Both Meyers (11) and Nicky Winterstein (10) are riding double-digit hitting streaks entering this weekend.
Danny O'Reilly has reached base in 14 straight games, the longest active streak among Rockets.

Chasing Down History
Chris Meyers has 12 home runs entering this weekend's series against Western Michigan, three away from tying the single-season record of 15, held by Ross Adolph (2018) and Mike Ernst (2000). Meyers has 23 games to get there and is averaging a home run every 9.58 at-bats.

Toledo, Bowling Green to Play at Fifth Third Field
The baseball programs at the University of Toledo and Bowling Green State University have announced that they will play at Fifth Third Field, home of the Toledo Mud Hens, on Friday, May 14 at 7:00 p.m. The contest is the first in a planned annual game between the Rockets and Falcons played in Downtown Toledo.

General admission tickets are available for $8.00 and special student-priced tickets are available for $5.00 with the use of a promo code. Tickets can be purchased through the Toledo Mud Hens box office by clicking on this link. Please contact Troy Hammersmith (thammersmith@mudhens.com) with the Mud Hens if interested in learning about premium seating options or for group tickets of 20 or more.

Scouting Western Michigan
Western Michigan is 13-17 entering the weekend with a 12-8 mark in league play, most recently splitting a weekend series with Bowling Green. The Broncos are hitting .275 as a team and own a staff ERA of 5.25. Connor Charping leads the team in hitting (.355) and leads the MAC in stolen bases with 14. Drew Devine (four home runs, 21 RBIs) and Justin McIntyre (15 extra-base hits, 19 RBIs) are among the top run producers on WMU's roster. Ryan Watt (0.81 ERA) and Will Mullen (2.38 ERA) have been solid producers out of the bullpen for the Broncos.