YPSILANTI, Mich. – The Toledo baseball team opened its weekend at Eastern Michigan with a 10-4 victory in Ypsilanti on Friday evening.
The Rockets (17-20, 7-9 MAC) wasted no time getting things going offensively. They scored seven runs in the top of the first, batting around to take control of the game early. UT scored three runs in the top of the third to bring its total into double digits, but that would be more than enough to earn the victory.
As good as the bats were, Toledo's starting pitching was just as effective. Junior Noah Johnson tossed six shutout innings and struck out four, besting Eastern Michigan (16-20, 6-13 MAC) hitters all game long.
"That was a great start to the weekend," head coach Rob Reinstetle said. "The offense came out hot and swung the bats well. Noah Johnson gave us a quality start and was dominant. We need to build off this performance and come back tomorrow hungry for another win."
All nine starters reached base and scored a run in Friday's victory. Sophomore Caden Konczak went 2-for-4 with four RBIs, tallying a triple and a home run at the plate. Fellow sophomores Brian Fry and Brayden White both had two hits and drove in runs as well.
Junior Jeron Williams recorded stolen base number 35 on the year, adding to his Division I-leading total and putting him one away from tying Tyler Grogg's single-season school record (36 in 2013).
Juniors Kyle Music and Matt LeLito finished the final three innings out of the bullpen.
First pitch for game two on Saturday is set for 4:00 p.m.
How it Happened
- The Rockets struck big early with a seven-run top of the first. Owen Jackson, Brayden White, and Jeron Williams all singled in runs and Caden Konczak provided a two-run triple. Trey Wright and Brian Fry also drew back-to-back bases-loaded walks.
- Noah Johnson squashed EMU scoring opportunities in the second and third innings to keep the Eagles off the scoreboard.
- Konczak's two-run homer and Mason Sykes' line drive RBI single into left field highlighted a three-run top of the third that pushed the lead to 10-0.
- Johnson continued to stifle the EMU offense, allowing just two baserunners over his final three innings of work.
- Kyle Music entered the game prior to the bottom of the seventh and kept the Eagles off the scoreboard in the seventh and eighth innings.
- Eastern Michigan's offensive drought ended in the bottom of the ninth. EMU plated four runs to spoil the shutout, but it proved to be far too little too late in Toledo's series-opening win.
