AKRON, Ohio – The Toledo baseball team received two strong pitching performances to open its Mid-American Conference season on Friday afternoon with a doubleheader sweep at Akron. The Rockets (6-8, 2-0 MAC) registered 6-3 and 2-1 victories over the Zips (3-10, 0-2 MAC) at Skeeles Field.
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Senior
Noah Johnson (1-1) struck out a season-high nine batters in the opener and allowed just two runs and five hits over seven innings. Senior
Grant Umberger (2-2) was even more effective in Game Two by yielding four hits and fanning five Zips in five scoreless innings.
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Freshman
Jacob Tabor earned his second save with a scoreless ninth in Game One. Senior
Kyle Pijaszek collected his first save in the nightcap after entering the ninth inning with the bases loaded and nobody out and allowing the Zips to plate just one run.
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"I'm really proud of the way we came out and played today," Head Coach
Rob Reinstetle said. "Both Noah (Johnson) and Grant (Umberger) gave us good starts and the bullpen did its job."
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Junior
Garret Pike and freshman
JP Wagner led Toledo with four hits apiece in the twin bill, but it was the long ball that propelled the Rockets in Game One. UT smashed four home runs in the first five innings to take control, with senior
Owen Jackson leading the way with a pair of homers and a team-high three RBIs.
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"The bats came alive and even our outs were loud," Reinstetle said. "I'm super happy for the hitters, and how they performed today. Opening up MAC play with two wins and to have the opportunity to sweep the series tomorrow is a good position to be in."
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The final game of the series is set to begin at 11:00 a.m. tomorrow, weather permitting.
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HOW IT HAPPENED
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GAME ONE
- Owen Jackson opened the scoring for the Rockets in the top of the second inning with a two-run homer over the right-field fence.
- After the Zips scored on an infield single in the bottom of the frame, Luke Walton gave UT a 3-1 advantage with a two-out solo shot in the top of the third.
- Jackson went deep again in the fourth with a lead-off home run to increase the Rockets' lead to 4-1.
- Scott Mackiewicz notched Toledo's fourth and final homer of the game with a two-run blast in the fifth for a 6-2 cushion.
- Akron added a run in the eighth, but Jacob Tabor closed out the game with a scoreless ninth.Â
GAME TWOÂ
- Toledo broke out in front again with Trey Wright's sacrifice fly in the fifth inning.
- The Rockets added a run to their lead in the sixth thanks to a Zips' wild pitch.
- The Zips had a chance to tie the game in the ninth following a hit batter and two walks. Kyle Pijaszek then entered the game and struck out the first batter he faced before allowing a sacrifice fly. The Zips' final batter flew out to center field.