ROCK HILL, S.C. – Senior southpaw Noah Johnson was the tough-luck loser on Friday, as the Toledo baseball team (1-3) opened its four-game series at Winthrop (1-4) with a 3-0 setback to the Eagles.
 
Johnson (0-1) allowed just four hits and three runs (two earned) in six strong innings. After allowing two runs in the opening frame, Johnson retired 15 straight batters until Winthrop took advantage of two Rocket errors to plate an unearned run in the sixth.
 
Senior Kyle Pijaszek and junior Brennan McCune each came on in relief to throw a scoreless inning.
 
"Sometimes in baseball you have to give credit where credit is due," Head Coach Rob Reinstetle said. "Winthrop came out and played a perfect game to beat us today. Noah Johnson pitched a good game and kept us in it. The bullpen did well too. Congrats to Winthrop, they'll have their hands full with us the next three games."
 
The Rockets couldn't get untracked offensively against Winthrop lefty Riley Huge, who yielded just one hit and fanned a career-high 13 batters in seven innings.

Junior Caden Konczak and sophomore Wes Parker registered UT's only base hits with singles in the fifth and eighth innings, respectively.

"We couldn't get anything going on offense," Reinstetle said. "I have to tip my cap to their starting pitcher. He threw the game of his life today."
 
The Rockets and Eagles will continue their four-game series with a doubleheader tomorrow.  First pitch is set for 2:00 p.m.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Eagles took a 2-0 lead with three hits, including a pair of doubles, in the first inning.
• Winthrop tacked on an unearned run following a pair of Rocket errors in the sixth.
• Wes Parker singled to lead off the eighth, but the Rockets' rally quickly ended with a double-play ground ball.