Toledo Grabs Another Series Win with 8-7 Victory Over NIU

Friday, March 29

Toledo, Ohio

3:00 p.m.

University of Toledo

13-13, 8-3

Northern Illinois

9-18, 5-6

Northern Illinois

Toledo

Junior Garret Pike homered twice for a second-straight game in Toledo's 8-7 win over Northern Illinois.

Photo by: Daniel Miller/University of Toledo

Toledo Grabs Another Series Win with 8-7 Victory Over NIU

3/29/2024 7:23:00 PM | Baseball

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Garret Pike homers twice and Noah Johnson throws seven strong innings in Game Two

TOLEDO, Ohio – Senior Noah Johnson pitched seven strong innings and freshman Jacob Tabor closed the door in the late innings in Toledo's 8-7 triumph over Northern Illinois on Friday afternoon at Scott Park. The Rockets (13-13, 8-3 MAC) have now won five of their last six games in addition to three of their first four Mid-American Conference series.

Johnson (2-1) allowed just one hit over the first six innings before exiting after allowing a run in the seventh. NIU (8-17, 5-6 MAC) then rallied for six runs in the eighth, but Tabor came on to strike out three batters in 1.1 innings to earn his fifth save of the season.

"That was a wild game today and shows you that no lead is ever safe in college baseball," Head Coach Rob Reinstetle said. "I told the guys after the game that you can't let teams hang around. You have to put them away in those middle innings. Noah Johnson was outstanding today, and I can't say enough about Jacob Tabor closing it out at the end."

Junior Garret Pike (2-for-3, 2 RBIs) homered twice for the second straight game and was joined by senior Scott Mackiewicz (2-for-5, HR, 3 RBIs) and junior Brayden White (2-for-3) with multi-hit outings.

"The offense got off to a really hot start, and I felt like we were on our way to another fairly easy win," Reinstetle said. "At the end of the day, we won the game and have a chance to sweep tomorrow."

Tomorrow's final game of the weekend series at Scott Park is scheduled for a 1:00 p.m. first pitch.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Garret Pike provided the Rockets an early lead by blasting a solo homer in the first inning for a second straight game.
Wes Parker's RBI double highlighted a two-run second that increased UT's lead to 3-0.
Parker drove in his second run of the day with a groundout in the third for a 4-0 advantage.
Scott Mackiewicz's two-run homer followed by another solo shot from Pike keyed a four-run fourth that gave Toledo an eight-run cushion.
NIU plated its first run on a single from Colin Summerhill.
After Parker Shupe's pinch-hit three-run homer in the eighth reduced UT's margin to 8-5, Mason Kelley's double down the left-field line plated two more runs to make it a one-run game.
Jacob Tabor ended the Huskies' threat with a strikeout and allowed just an infield single in a scoreless ninth.