KENT, Ohio – The University of Toledo baseball team used a four-run eighth-inning to open its series at Kent State with an 8-7 victory on Friday.

"It wasn't the prettiest of games, but today was a huge win for us," head coach Rob Reinstetle said. "The offense just kept coming and scoring against some really good arms. Scott Mackiewicz had a fabulous performance at the plate with two home runs and a single. Jordan Power was excellent on the mound at the end of the game. Winning on Friday night is big and we have to come back ready to take the series. Can't be satisfied with just winning a game or two. These are the baby steps in building a winning program."

The Rockets pounded out 12 hits on Friday, including seven extra-base hits. Mackiewicz had his best game of the season, going 3-for-3 with two home runs, a walk, and a stolen base. Trace Hatfield drove in three runs for UT, two of which came on the go-ahead two-run home run in the top of the eighth inning. Chris Meyers went 2-for-5 with a double and leadoff man Nicky Winterstein was 2-for-5 with a triple. Zach Schwartzenberger added two hits, an RBI, and a stolen base to help the cause.

Power ended the game with four scoreless innings on the mound, allowing just two hits and no walks to earn the win. Wyatt Jefferson started the game and threw 4.0 innings while striking out two.

The Rockets and Golden Flashes will continue their series on Saturday with a seven-inning doubleheader starting at 1:00 p.m.
 
How it Happened

• Toledo struck first with a run in the top of the first. Winterstein ripped the first pitch of the game into the gap in right-center field for a triple, then later scored on a double from Hatfield to put UT ahead 1-0.
• Kent State took a 2-1 lead on a two-run home run in the bottom of the third.
• A two-out error from KSU in the top of the fifth allowed two runs to score for the Rockets to make the score 3-2. Hatfield scored on the defensive miscue, then Schwartzenberger singled in John Servello in the next at-bat to give Toledo the lead.
• Toledo's lead did not last long, as Kent State scored five runs in the bottom of the fifth. A two-run single gave the Golden Flashes a 4-3 lead, then a sac fly and two RBI doubles pushed their advantage to four, 7-3.
• Mackiewicz led off the top of the sixth with his first home run to make the score 7-4, then launched his second dinger of the game in the top of the eighth to make it 7-5.
• Toledo would take the lead later in the eighth with three more runs to put the score at 8-7. Meyers' infield single allowed Winterstein to score, then Hatfield hit a two-run shot to left field that put the Rockets back out in front.
• Kent State led off the bottom of the ninth with a single, but Power was able to induce a game-ending 5-4-3 double play to seal the Rockets' third straight win.