Rockets Battle for 12 Innings Before Falling at Michigan, 7-6

Tuesday, March 12

Ann Arbor, Mich.

3:00 p.m.

University of Toledo

7-9

Michigan

6-11

Toledo

Michigan

Senior Kyle Pijaszek threw three scoreless innings in relief in Toledo's 7-6 (12 inn.) defeat at Michigan.

Rockets Battle for 12 Innings Before Falling at Michigan, 7-6

3/12/2024 8:14:00 PM | Baseball

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Toledo nearly defeats Wolverines for second straight season

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The Toledo baseball team nearly defeated Michigan for a second straight season but ended up on the short end of a 7-6 (12 inn.) decision to the Wolverines (6-11) at Ray Fisher Stadium.

"We played a really solid game today and just came up short," Head Coach Rob Reinstetle said. "Our bats came out strong and we got up on them early. From there they just chipped away and got back into the game. We had ample opportunities to extend our lead and win the game. We just couldn't get that big hit or move the runners along to push across more insurance runs."

Senior Owen Jackson paced the Rockets with three hits, with junior Garret Pike and redshirt freshman Luke Walton collecting two hits apiece. Pike drove in three of Toledo's runs with a three-run blast in the second inning.

Three of the Rockets' relievers registered scoreless stints on the mound, highlighted by senior Kyle Pijaszek throwing three scoreless frames with the game on the line in the ninth, 10th and 11th innings.

"We got some really good efforts on the mound and played high-level defense," Reinstetle said. "Even though we lost the game, we're playing good baseball and are in a good spot. There's no rest for us though. We're back at it again tomorrow against a good Wright State team."

Toledo (7-9, 3-0 MAC) will travel down I-75 on Wednesday, March 13, to face three-time defending Horizon League champion Wright State (8-7). First pitch vs. the Raiders at Nischwitz Stadium is set for 3:00 p.m. with streaming on ESPN+.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Scott Mackiewicz's leadoff homer provided the Rockets with an early lead.
Garett Pike's three-run blast highlighted a five-run outburst in the top of the second that put Toledo ahead 6-0.
The Wolverines answered with three runs in the bottom of the frame to cut UT's lead in half.
Bradley Navarro's two-run single to right field in the third reduced the Rockets' lead to 6-5.
Kyle Dernedde evened the contest in the sixth with a single up the middle for his third RBI of the day.
Toledo's best chances to take the lead came after leadoff doubles from Caden Konczak and Pike in the eighth and 12^th innings, respectively.
Cole Caruso's two-out single down the left-field line provided the Wolverines with a walk-off win.