NORTH CHARLESTON, SC – Toledo softball started its season with two victories over Charleston Southern on Friday night. The Rockets captured an 18-5 run-rule win (5 inn.) in the opening game and a 5-4 victory in game two.

In the opening contest, the Rockets had an explosive fourth inning, bringing 10 batters to the plate and scoring 11 runs. It all started with senior Anna Dixon's single to center field that allowed junior Macey Moore to tie the game at 2-2, and the Rockets never looked back. Sophomore Jenna Kroll crushed a three-run homer, her first of the season, into center field that brought in senior Aubrey Reed and sophomore Alexis d'Alexander to put Toledo up 10-2. Senior Dayna Denner sent her first home run of the season over the center-field wall in the top of the fifth inning, bringing  around two runs to put her team up 14-4. The Rockets would add four more runs and cap the game at the end of the inning, to secure their first win of the season 18-5.

"In that first game we had a ton of two-out runs," head coach Joe Abraham said. "It was just one clutch hit after another, which was a blast."

In the second game, Aubrey Reed got the Rockets' offense running in the top of the first inning, driving a double to right center, that allowed for Denner and junior Leah Munson to score. The Buccaneers pulled within one at the bottom of the fourth off from a single into left field. The Rockets had the bases loaded with no one out in the top of the sixth, but the Buccaneers' defense came to life as they only allowed one run to score and keep it a one-run ballgame. Kroll sent one to shallow center which ran in sophomore Sydney McKeever for the score.

"In the nightcap, we made some physical and mental errors, yet pulled it out," Abraham said. "We got some great pitching from Makenna Durieux and Annika Johnson in big-time situations. We haven't been outside since October, and we came out and got two wins and hit the ball really well. It was a great way to start the 2022 campaign."

Toledo was led offensively in the first game by Dixon and sophomore Lauren Erickson with three hits apiece. In the second game, Aubrey Reed, Kroll and junior Riley Mohr connected on two hits apiece.

Toledo will face UNC Wilmington and Charleston Southern tomorrow at noon and 2:30 p.m. respectively. The Rockets will close the weekend vs the Seahawks at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday.

GAME 1 – Toledo 18, Charleston Southern 5

• Charleston Southern scored the first run of the game off a Toledo error in the top of the first.
• Aleah Marra reached home on a fielder's choice to tie the game 1-1 at the top of the third inning.
• CSU's Madison Kroger tapped one into right field, allowing the Buccaneers' lead runner to score and take back their one-run lead at the bottom of the third.
• Anna Dixon singled one to center field as Macey Moore advanced to home plate from third place to tie the game 2-2 in the top of the fourth.
• Raelyn Nyren stepped up and singled one into the outfield, allowing Lauren Erickson and Sydney McKeever to score and take a 4-2 lead.
• Jenna Kroll hit the Rockets' first home run of the season over the left-field wall to bring in Aubrey Reed and Alexis d'Alexander and put the Rockets up 10-2.
• Dayna Denner homered over the center-field wall and brought in two runs for the Rockets in the top of the fifth, and make the score 14-4.
• Dixon hit a single and advanced to second base on an error, which allowed Lily Beyer and Aubrey Reed to come around and add two more runs for the Rockets (17-4).
• Bri Robeson singled through the right side and scored Lauren Erickson with the final run of the inning and put push the Rockets on top 18-4.
• A single to left center gave just enough room for the Buccaneers' lead runner Ashlyn Cribb to score and cut the Rockers' lead 18-5, but it wasn't enough as UT would capture a run-rule victory in its first game of the 2022 season.

GAME 2 – Toledo 5, Charleston Southern 4

• Aubrey Reed doubled into the gap in right-center that allowed for Dayna Denner and Leah Munson to tack on two runs for the Rockets in the top of the first inning.
• Kroll's infield single pushed Toledo's lead to 3-0 before Charleston Southern had a chance to bat.
• Raleigh Lewis doubled into right center to put the Buccaneers on the board in the bottom of the first inning, making the score 3-1.
• A two-run home run by CSU's Madison Koger in the bottom of the fifth tied the game at 4-4.
• Kroll drove in the game-winning run in the top of the sixth, ripping a single to bring home McKeever and put the score at 5-4. 
• Annika Johnson allowed a one-out double in the bottom of the seventh, but struck out the final two batters of the game to help complete the doubleheader sweep.