Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

University of Toledo Athletics

THE OFFICIAL SITE OF TOLEDO ATHLETICS
Powered By:
Social:
Mason Sykes - MAC Tournament vs. CMU
Madison Cozzens
Mason Sykes became Toledo's single-season home run record holder with his two-homer day on Saturday.
7
Toledo TOLEDO 33-25
10
Winner Central Michigan CMUBB 40-17
Toledo TOLEDO
33-25
7
Final
10
Central Michigan CMUBB
40-17
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Toledo TOLEDO 3 0 1 2 0 0 1 0 0 7 10 5
Central Michigan CMUBB 0 0 1 1 3 3 1 1 X 10 13 0

W: MRAKITSCH, Adam (5-1) L: McAninch, Cal (3-3)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Rockets’ Season Ends with 10-7 Loss to Central Michigan in MAC Tournament

MUNCIE, Ind. – Toledo's season came to an end on Saturday in a 10-7 loss to Central Michigan in the Mid-American Conference Baseball Tournament.
 
The Rockets got off to a hot start with a three-run top of the first and led by as many as five runs heading into the bottom of the fourth. But the Chippewas scored in every inning from the third through the eighth to chip away at Toledo's lead and eventually overtake them on the scoreboard in the sixth inning. The Rockets weren't able to stage a final rally and were eliminated from the MAC Tournament.
 
Toledo finishes the year with a 33-25 record, its most wins in a season since the 2010 campaign.
 
Individually, junior Mason Sykes etched his name into the record books with a two-homer day, bringing his season total to 16 and breaking the program's single-season home run record. Sykes' home run in the first inning was his 15th of the season, which tied the program's single-season record, and his homer in the seventh inning was No. 16, setting a new single-season mark at Toledo. Previously Mike Ernst (2000), Ross Adolph (2018), and Chris Meyers (2021) had shared the single-season record with 15 home runs.
 
"It's never easy when a season ends, but I am so proud of this team," head coach Rob Reinstetle said. "We accomplished so much this year. We set some personal records, team records, and had program bests. I have no doubts in my mind that this is one of the best seasons in Rocket Baseball history, and it's all because of this group of young men. To the players who will not be back, all I can say is thank you. Thank you for all the hard work and for buying into what me and my staff wanted to do here. To the players that return next year, we now have a taste of where we want to go. I told the team after the game that while this game today didn't go as we wanted, they had nothing to hang their heads about. This team will be remembered as the team that set the bar and sent this program in a different trajectory for the future. It's a sad day, but I love these guys and can easily tell anyone that asks, Toledo Baseball's best days are ahead of us. Go Rockets!"

Sophomore Scott Mackiewicz had a strong day at the plate as well, going 3-for-4 with a home run and two runs scored. Sophomore Jeron Williams had a two-hit day out of the leadoff spot, while freshman Garret Pike and senior Nicky Winterstein both drove in runs for the Rockets.
 
Three different pitchers saw time on the mound on Saturday: sophomore Connor Brandon and juniors Cal McAninch and Kyle Jones. Brandon got the nod to start and struck out three in four innings, while Jones pitched the final 2.2 innings for the Rockets and struck out four. McAninch tossed 1.1 frames out of the bullpen.
 
How it Happened
  • The Rockets got off to a hot start again on Saturday, scoring three runs in the top of the first. Pike's RBI fielder's choice brought in the first run of the game, then Sykes blasted a two-run shot to right field that put UT ahead 3-0 before the Chippewas had a chance to bat.
  • Mackiewicz launched a home run to right field to lead off the top of the third and extend Toledo's lead to 4-0.
  • Central Michigan got on the board in the bottom of the third to make it 4-1. UT turned a double play with the bases loaded, trading a run for two outs.
  • Junior Darryn Davis led off the top of the fourth with a double off the wall in left field then scored two pitches later on Winterstein's base hit through the right side of the infield, putting Toledo ahead 5-1. Winterstein then scored on Williams' two-out infield single to extend the lead to 6-1.
  • A sac fly for CMU in the bottom of the fourth trimmed the Rockets' lead to 6-2.
  • Central Michigan made it a one-run game by scoring three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Back-to-back RBI doubles and an RBI single did the damage and put the score at 6-5.
  • Danny Wuestenfeld provided the biggest blow of the day with a three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth to give Central Michigan its first lead of the game, 8-6.
  • Sykes positively obliterated a 1-0 pitch over the fence in left field in the top of the seventh to make it a one-run game, 8-7, and break the single-season home run record in the process.
  • The Chippewas added runs in the seventh and eighth innings to increase their lead, and the Rockets were unable mount a comeback in the final stages of the game.
Print Friendly Version