DAYTON, Ohio – A five-run fourth inning for Dayton proved to be the difference in the Toledo baseball team's 6-2 non-conference defeat to the Flyers (6-5) on Wednesday afternoon.

"That was a tough loss today because we actually pitched a solid game and they didn't do much offensively other than their big inning," Head Coach Rob Reinstetle said. "We pitched seven or eight really good innings, but we weren't good enough with our bats to overcome it."

Toledo (4-8) utilized seven pitchers in the mid-week matchup. Senior Matt LeLito (0-1) started and was effective in his first three innings before allowing three straight singles to open the fourth.

Three Rocket relievers kept UT within striking distance during the middle innings. Senior Kyle Music struck out the side in the fifth, with junior Logan Danzeisen and senior Yianni Skeriotis following with scoreless innings.

Redshirt freshman Luke Walton paced the Rockets with three hits, including his first collegiate home run that gave Toledo a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth. Senior Trey Wright drove in UT's other run with an RBI double on his second hit of the day.

Toledo is back in action this weekend when it begins Mid-American Conference play at Akron. The Rockets and Zips will play a doubleheader beginning at noon on Friday, March 8 before playing a single game at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 9.

"The beauty of it is that it's like starting a new season," said Reinstetle. "If you've played well up to this point, that's great and you just keep going. If you've struggled, you put it behind you and start new in MAC play. That is my message to our guys."


HOW IT HAPPENED

• Luke Walton put the Rockets on the scoreboard first with a solo homer in the fourth inning.
• The Flyers answered with five runs in the fourth without the benefit of any extra-base hits to take control. UD tallied six singles in the frame in addition to drawing two walks.
• Trey Wright's two-out RBI double reduced the Rockets' deficit to a 5-2 margin.