TOLEDO, Ohio – The Toledo baseball team will continue its season-opening road stretch this weekend with a four-game series against Southeast Missouri on Friday-Sunday, March 1-3. First pitch for the series opener on Friday is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. at Capaha Field. Saturday will feature a doubleheader starting at 1:00 p.m. and the series finale is scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday. This will be UT's first meeting against the Redhawks in program history.
 
The Rockets (3-4) are coming off a four-game split at Winthrop. The Eagles opened the series with a 3-0 win, holding the Rockets to just two hits. UT answered back with a 2-1 victory the following day in the first game of a doubleheader. Winthrop claimed the nightcap, 7-2, before the Rockets exploded for a season-high 11 hits on Sunday to claim a 7-1 victory.
 
Junior catcher Brayden White leads Toledo with a .368 batting average and is tied for the team lead with four RBIs with sophomore first baseman Wes Parker (.300). Parker was the Rockets' top hitter last weekend with a .385 average (5-of-13) that included hits in all four games as well as a home run and four RBIs. Junior outfielder Garret Pike has also been one of UT's top performers at the plate with a .308 hitting mark. He has reached base in all seven games this season.
 
Starting Strength
Senior Grant Umberger ranks fifth in the Mid-American Conference with a 2.45 ERA and has held opponents to a .139 batting average, a mark that is tied for third in the conference.
 
Senior Noah Johnson has also performed well on the mound. The Rockets' Friday starter possesses a 3.86 ERA with 12 strikeouts in 11.2 innings pitched.
 
Sophomore RJ Shunck also produced a solid outing last Sunday's at Winthrop, allowing just one hit and fanning a career-high eight batters in a scoreless four innings.
 
Bullpen Banter
Toledo's bullpen has been a strength in the first two weeks with senior closer Camryn Szynski leading the way. He registered saves vs. Mercer and Winthrop and has yet to allow a hit in 2.0 IP.
 
Sophomore Jackson Bergman (1-0) also possesses impressive numbers with a 0.00 ERA and six strikeouts in 3.1 IP. Freshman Jacob Tabor (1-0) also has a 0.00 ERA and has fanned four batters in 2.2 IP.
 
Junior Brennan McCune also has held opponents scoreless and has allowed just two hits in 3.1 IP.
 
About SE Missouri
Southeast Missouri (3-6) opened its season with five losses in its first six games but has won its last two contests, including an 8-3 victory over Missouri on Tuesday night. The Redhawks were swept by No. 18 Dallas Baptist to open the season before dropping three of four to St. Thomas. Michael Mugan (.306, 4 HR, 12 RBI) and Bryce Cannon (.300, 3 HR, 10 RBI) are two of SEMO's top hitters, with Ben Palmer also providing power with four homers.
 
Up Next
The Rockets return to the Buckeye state for a mid-week matchup at Dayton on Wednesday, March 6. First pitch is set for 3:00 p.m. at AES Ohio Stadium. Toledo will then open MAC play next weekend with a three-game series at Akron on Friday-Sunday, March 8-10.