TOLEDO, Ohio – Sophomore Lauren Erickson hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the eighth inning to give Toledo a 7-6 win in the series finale vs. Kent State on Sunday afternoon.

"What a huge win for us," head coach Joe Abraham said. "After they battled back and tied it, we played great defense and Sophia settled down for the last out in the sixth, and we got clutch pitching in the seventh and eighth.  In the bottom of the eighth, everyone did her job.  Lexi Eckman got it on the ground, Lily Beyer put down a perfect bunt and Lauren Erickson had the big hit. That's how you win games."
 
Senior Aubrey Reed paced Toledo's attack with two hits, including her sixth home run of the season, and three RBIs. Senior Dayna Denner added one hit, including her program-record setting 25th career home run. Denner passed the previous record holder Kaitlin Bergman (2014-18) who set the record at 24.

"Dayna has the record in two and a half years, and she would demolish it if she had another 70 games," Abraham said. "She has been struggling as of late but hit two balls right on the money today and drew a key walk in the first inning. She is a great hitter who just needs to trust her swing and her instincts."
 
Freshman Sophia Knight picked up the win for the Rockets, recording six strikeouts through eight complete innings of work.

"Sophia has been in that spot so many times this year, and that it will pay off as we move into next year," Abraham said. "She has been in enough tough situations in this one season as many pitchers experience in a career. I give Kent State credit. They were doing nothing for five innings and then battled in that sixth inning." 

Toledo has back-to-back games on deck starting with its final non-conference game vs. Notre Dame on Tuesday, April 26 at 5:00 p.m. The Rockets will then pick up and head to Akron for a rescheduled single game on Wednesday, April 27 at 3:00 p.m.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Toledo jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning on a three-run by Aubrey Reed over the center field fence.
•  Denner added a run for the Rockets in the second with a solo shot to center, her seventh long ball of the season.
• Sophomore Riley Mohr hit an RBI double to right field and senior Anna Dixon hit an infield RBI single to extend Toledo's lead to 6-0 in the third.
• Kent State tied the game at 6-6 with six runs in the sixth on a three-run homer and a pair of singles.
• in the bottom of the eighth, sophomore Lexi Eckman reached first on an error by the pitcher, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Lily Beyer and reached home on an RBI single from Erickson to give Toledo the 7-6 victory.