MT. PLEASANT, Mich. – The Toledo baseball team rallied from a big deficit only to see a three-run lead disappear on Saturday afternoon in a 10-9 road setback to Central Michigan at Theunissen Stadium.
The Rockets (15-16, 9-5 MAC) fell behind 6-0 in the first inning but plated four runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth to take a 7-6 lead. UT then added two more runs in the eighth, but CMU (10-21, 5-9 MAC) answered with three runs in the bottom of the frame before walking it off in the ninth.
"It's a horrible way to lose a game after our bats competed very hard to get us in position to win the game," Head Coach
Rob Reinstetle said. "Outside of
Jackson Bergman, we did not pitch it very well today. I thought we were in great shape with a three-run lead and the arms we have in bullpen. But today it just wasn't meant to be. We'll regroup and come back ready to play tomorrow to try and win this series."
Sophomore
Jackson Bergman sparkled in 3.2 innings of scoreless relief and was in position to get the win. Senior
Noah Johnson started for the Rockets and allowed seven hits and six runs in 2.2 innings.
Sophomore Evan Waters (4-2) came out of the bullpen to earn the victory for CMU after allowing two runs in four innings.
Senior
Scott Mackiewicz, junior
Garret Pike, junior
Brayden White, and junior
Trey Wright each homered as part of the Rockets' six hits on the day.
Toledo and Central Michigan will wrap up their three-game series tomorrow with first pitch scheduled for noon.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Drew Stengren's two-run homer capped off a six-run first that gave CMU a big lead early.
- Toledo climbed back into the game in the fourth thanks to Scott Mackiewicz's lead-off homer and Trey Wright's three-run blast.
- Mackiewicz drove in another run in the fifth to bring the Rockets within a run, and Garret Pike provided UT the lead later in the inning with a two-run shot over the right-field fence.
- Brayden White's two-run homer down the left-field line in the eighth increased Toledo's margin to 9-6.
- CMU tied the score with three runs in the eighth.
- Nick Dardas' sacrifice fly down the right-field line scored the winning run for the Chippewas.