KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Toledo split a doubleheader at Western Michigan Tuesday afternoon at Ebert Field. The Rockets (26-21, 16-15 MAC) captured the opener by a 6-1 margin before falling to the Broncos (13-33, 9-23 MAC) by an identical score in the nightcap.
Freshman
Lauren Erickson spearheaded the Rockets' attack in the opener with a 3-for-4 day at the plate and four RBIs. Junior
Aleah Marra also enjoyed a 3-for-4 outing, while junior
Anna Dixon and freshman
Jenna Kroll collected two hits apiece.
"We strung together some hits and Lauren and Aleah continued their hot hitting in Game One," Head Coach
Joe Abraham said. "In the second game, we kind of laid an egg. It happens over the course of 50-some games. Everybody in the MAC is capable and if you have a so-so game, you're going to lose."
Senior
Erin Hunt (19-12) earned the victory in Game One by allowing six hits and just one unearned run in seven innings.
"Erin was a little shaky early but settled down and was efficient and smooth after the first couple innings," Abraham said.
The Rockets were limited to five hits in Game Two and committed three errors leading to four unearned runs. Toledo scored its lone run when senior
Dayna Denner doubled to lead off the sixth inning and scored on Erickson's sacrifice fly. Denner's double was her 18
th of the season, breaking the previous school record held by Brenda Steinbrunner (1987).
Junior
Makenna Durieux (2-5) yielded nine hits and five runs (two earned) in 3.1 innings in Game Two. Freshman
Annika Johnson came on in relief and allowed just one unearned run in 2.2 innings.
Â
Toledo will close out its season with six home games, beginning with a 1:00 p.m. doubleheader vs. Central Michigan tomorrow. The Rockets will then host Akron in a four-game series this weekend at Scott Park. Each of UT's remaining six contests can be seen on ESPN3.
GAME 1
- The Broncos took a 1-0 lead with an unearned run in the second inning.
- Toledo plated three runs in the fourth on RBI from Macey Moore and Lauren Erickson's two-run double.
- Erickson provided the Rockets with some insurance runs with another two-run double in the sixth.
- Jenna Kroll closed out the scoring with an RBI single up the middle in the seventh.
GAME 2
- Western Michigan tallied single runs in the first and second innings to take an early lead.
- The Broncos scored four runs in the fourth to take control. Mackenzie Swinehart's bunt single put WMU up 3-0 and another run came across on a Rocket throwing error on the play. Alyssa Kramer's two-run single to center field put Toledo down by a 6-0 margin.
- The Rockets scored their lone run in the sixth when Dayna Denner doubled and came home on Lauren Erickson's sacrifice fly.