Toledo Opens Season with Pair of Victories

Friday, February 9

Spartanburg, S.C.

12:30 p.m.

University of Toledo

1-0

Towson

0-2

TOWSON

TOLEDO

Blue Hose Invitaitonal - Clinton, SC - Feb. 10, 2023

Junior Maris Barbato's leadoff homer in the second inning vs. USC Upstate contributed to Toledo's 5-2 victory on Friday in South Carolina.

Photo by: Jeff Erickson

2/9/2024 8:45:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Rockets receive complete-game outings from juniors Kylee Graham and Sophia Knight

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Toledo softball team opened its 2024 season with a pair of victories on Friday at USC Upstate's Spartan Classic. The Rockets shut out Towson, 2-0, in their first game and followed that up with a 5-2 triumph over host USC Upstate.

Toledo received complete-game efforts in the circle from juniors Kylee Graham and Sophia Knight in its two victories. Graham scattered five hits and walked just one batter in her Rocket debut, while Knight allowed just three hits and a walk.

Fifth-year senior Riley Mohr and junior Eli Enriquez paced Toledo offensively today with three hits apiece. Enriquez also stole three bases and drove in both Rocket runs in the opener in her first game in a Midnight Blue and Gold uniform.

Five different Rockets collected RBIs against USC Upstate, with junior Sidney Griffith contributing a team-high two hits.

Toledo will be back in action tomorrow against Loyola Chicago at 9:30 a.m. before ending the tournament on Sunday with a 12:30 p.m. meeting vs. USC Upstate.

HOW IT HAPPENED

GAME ONE
Toledo 2, Towson 0

Toledo took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third. Madison Mikulski doubled to lead off the inning and came around to score on Eli Enriquez's suicide squeeze.
The Rockets added to their lead when Enriquez' run-scoring single to right-center plated Mikulski again.
Kylee Graham ended the game by retiring the Tigers in order in the seventh inning on three groundouts.

GAME TWO
Toledo 5, USC Upstate 2

Enriquez tripled to open the game and scored on Riley Mohr's single to right field.
Maris Barbato's leadoff homer and Enriquez' sacrifice fly to left field increased Toledo's advantage to 3-0. Barbato's home run was the second of her career.
The Spartans added single runs in the third and fourth frames to make it a one-run game.
Kendra VanderLugt's RBI double and Sidney Griffith's RBI single in the sixth provided the Rockets insurance and their final margin of victory.
Sophia Knight didn't allow any baserunners in the final two innings to close out the win.