Rockets Host Eastern Michigan in MAC Showdown at Scott Park

Friday, April 22

Toledo, Ohio

Noon

University of Toledo

Eastern Michigan

Toledo and Eastern Michigan will meet for a four-game series this weekend at Scott Park in a battle of two of the top-five teams in the MAC.

Photo by: Ross Achter

Rockets Host Eastern Michigan in MAC Showdown at Scott Park

4/21/2022 1:54:00 PM | Baseball

TOLEDO, Ohio – The Toledo baseball team welcomes Eastern Michigan to Scott Park this weekend for a four-game series.

The series opens on Friday with a noon game, which will be followed by a doubleheader on Saturday also beginning at noon. The Rockets and Eagles will wrap things up on Sunday with a 1:00 p.m. tilt.

First pitch for Friday's game was pushed up due to rainy weather in the forecast for Friday afternoon.

The Rockets (18-17, 12-11 MAC) currently sit in third place in the Mid-American Conference standings, while Eastern Michigan (15-20, 10-10 MAC) is tied for fourth place with Ohio (16-17, 10-10 MAC) and a half game up on Western Michigan (12-21, 9-10 MAC). The top four teams qualify for the MAC Tournament, which will be hosted by the regular season champion.

Last Time Out
Toledo took three out of four at home against Kent State this past weekend, winning three straight one-run games to capture the weekend series.

After dropping the first game, the Rockets came back out on Saturday and secured back-to-back walk-off victories. Toledo came back from a 4-0 deficit in the first game to win, 8-7, on a game-winning two-RBI single by Kade Wroot. In game two, Toledo trailed 4-3 in the bottom of the ninth when Garret Pike scored on a wild pitch to tie the score at 4-4 and force extra innings. In the bottom of the tenth, Pike drove one deep into the gap in left-center field that allowed Mason Sykes to score easily and cap a wild doubleheader.

In the finale on Sunday, The Rockets trailed 4-2 heading into the bottom of the sixth, but a couple clutch two-out hits by Jeron Williams and Scott Mackiewicz tied the game at 4-4. In the next inning, Nicky Winterstein's pinch-hit single with two outs brought in the go-ahead run and Cal McAninch shut the Golden Flashes down in the final innings to end the game.

Rocket Notes

Garret Pike was named MAC Co-Player of the Week earlier this week, making him the third Rocket to receive a weekly award from the MAC this season. Both Kyle Jones and Mason Sykes have won twice this year.
Jones has a shot to break the school's single-season strikeout record, currently held by Jeremy Griffiths (102, 1999). He has six outings of at least eight strikeouts this season, including a career-high 13 in his start against Miami on March 25. Jones sits 17th in the country in K/BB ratio (8.11) and 22nd in total strikeouts.
Jones was invited to participate in the 2022 MLB Draft Combine earlier this week. The Combine will take place at Petco Park in San Diego from June 14-20.
Pike has been on a tear as of late, hitting .500 (14-for-28) with a home run and seven RBIs over the last seven games.
The Rockets' pitching staff ranks third in the MAC in ERA (4.90) and fourth in strikeouts (282).
Mason Sykes ranks among the league leaders in home runs (10) and RBIs (34), sitting in a tie for fourth place in both categories.

About Eastern Michigan
Eastern Michigan enters this weekend's series with a record of 15-20 and a 10-10 ledger in league play. EMU has had a busy week, hosting Siena Heights on Tuesday and visiting Michigan State on Wednesday in non-conference action. Last weekend, the Eagles dropped three out of four at home to Ohio to slip into a tie for fourth place in the MAC standings. Eastern Michigan leads the MAC in home runs this season with 48 and boasts three of the top five home run hitters in the league: Matt Kirk (11), Daniel Warkentin (11), and Gabe Denton (10).

Tickets for Battle of I-75 at Fifth Third Field On Sale Now!
Toledo will play arch-rival Bowling Green at Fifth Third Field on Tuesday, May 10. Tickets for Toledo's game at Fifth Third Field are on sale now and can be purchased through the Toledo Mud Hens ticket office online by visiting this link. General admission tickets will be $8.00, with discounted tickets available for high school and college students.