Friday, March 22
Toledo, Ohio
3:00 p.m.
University of Toledo
9-12, 5-2
5
vs
2
Ball State
12-11, 1-6
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Ball State
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
2
3
1
Toledo
2
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
X
5
6
1
Senior Scott Mackiewicz collected two hits in Toledo's 5-2 victory over Ball State.
Photo by: Bree Bee
Rockets Explode Early to Defeat Ball State in Home Opener, 5-2
3/22/2024 6:49:00 PM | Baseball
Toledo scores five runs in first two innings to improve to 5-2 in MAC play
TOLEDO, Ohio – Five runs in the first two innings propelled the Toledo baseball team to a 5-2 victory over Ball State in its home opener on a chilly Friday afternoon at Scott Park.
"I was really happy with today's game," Head Coach Rob Reinstetle said. "We did a lot of things well. The offense jumped out on them early. Grant Umberger pitched in and out of trouble but gave us a decent start on the mound. Our bullpen was outstanding with Kyle Music, Brennan McCune, and Jacob Tabor closing it out."
Senior Grant Umberger started for the Rockets (9-12, 5-2 MAC) and allowed one hit and five walks in 4.1 innings before exiting. The Cardinals scored their only two runs in the fifth inning thanks to four walks and a hit batter.
Senior Kyle Music (1-0) picked up the victory by yielding just one hit and fanning two batters in 1.1 innings. Junior Brennan McCune came on to throw a perfect seventh, and freshman Jacob Tabor earned his fourth save by allowing just one hit in the final two innings.
Senior Owen Jackson registered the lone extra-base hit in the contest, a two-run homer over the right-field fence in the first to give the Rockets an early lead. Toledo then added three more runs in the second but was held without a hit for the remainder of the day.
Nate Blain (0-2) threw a complete game for the Cardinals (12-11, 1-6 MAC), allowing six hits and five runs in eight innings. He didn't allow any hits in the final six innings.
The second game of the series between the Rockets and Cardinals will begin Saturday at 3:00 p.m., two hours later than originally scheduled to allow the contest to be played in slightly warmer temperatures.
"Ball State is the defending champion in this league and a good baseball team," Reinstetle said. "We will have to come back tomorrow with the same focus knowing that they will be hungry to try to beat us."
HOW IT HAPPENED
"I was really happy with today's game," Head Coach Rob Reinstetle said. "We did a lot of things well. The offense jumped out on them early. Grant Umberger pitched in and out of trouble but gave us a decent start on the mound. Our bullpen was outstanding with Kyle Music, Brennan McCune, and Jacob Tabor closing it out."
Senior Grant Umberger started for the Rockets (9-12, 5-2 MAC) and allowed one hit and five walks in 4.1 innings before exiting. The Cardinals scored their only two runs in the fifth inning thanks to four walks and a hit batter.
Senior Kyle Music (1-0) picked up the victory by yielding just one hit and fanning two batters in 1.1 innings. Junior Brennan McCune came on to throw a perfect seventh, and freshman Jacob Tabor earned his fourth save by allowing just one hit in the final two innings.
Senior Owen Jackson registered the lone extra-base hit in the contest, a two-run homer over the right-field fence in the first to give the Rockets an early lead. Toledo then added three more runs in the second but was held without a hit for the remainder of the day.
Nate Blain (0-2) threw a complete game for the Cardinals (12-11, 1-6 MAC), allowing six hits and five runs in eight innings. He didn't allow any hits in the final six innings.
The second game of the series between the Rockets and Cardinals will begin Saturday at 3:00 p.m., two hours later than originally scheduled to allow the contest to be played in slightly warmer temperatures.
"Ball State is the defending champion in this league and a good baseball team," Reinstetle said. "We will have to come back tomorrow with the same focus knowing that they will be hungry to try to beat us."
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Grant Umberger prevented the Cardinals from scoring first by escaping a bases-loaded jam in the top of the first inning.
- Owen Jackson then put the Rockets in front with a two-out two-run homer in the bottom of the frame.
- Toledo added to its lead with three runs in the second on RBI singles from Kaleb Herbert and Scott Mackiewicz as well as Garret Pike's sacrifice fly.
- Ball State scored two runs in the fifth without a base hit. The Cardinals' Blake Bevis and Matthew Kamins each drew bases-loaded walks.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Music, Kyle (1-0)
L: Nate Blain (0-2)
S: Tabor, Jacob (4)
Batting:
RBI: Blake Bevis 1 ; Matthew Kamins 1
SH: Nick Gregory 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Nick Gregory 1 ; Nick Husovsky 1
HBP: Nick Gregory 2 ; Decker Scheffler 1
Batting:
HR: Jackson, Owen 1
RBI: Mackiewicz, Scott 1 ; Pike, Garret 1 ; Jackson, Owen 2 ; Herbert, Kaleb 1
SH: Pike, Garret 1
SF: Pike, Garret 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Mackiewicz, Scott 1 ; Jackson, Owen 1 ; Parker, Wes 1 ; Wagner, JP 1 ; Herbert, Kaleb 1
SB: Herbert, Kaleb 1
CS: Herbert, Kaleb 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
2
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
INF
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