TOLEDO, Ohio – The Toledo softball team blasted a school-record seven home runs in a 16-7 win in six innings over Western Michigan at Scott Park on Saturday afternoon. The previous record was five home runs at Kent State on March 21, 2021.

The Rockets' offensive explosion helped UT rally from a 6-4 deficit in the fourth inning. Toledo (6-16, 1-2 MAC) plated four runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings.

Samantha Bolding, Audrey Miller, Kendra VanderLugt led the Rockets offensivey by homering twice in a game for the first time in their collegiate careers.  The trio each homered in successive at-bats during a four-run fifth inning.

Miller's homers included her second career grand slam and resulted in a career-high six RBI. 

Jenna Bloomfield appeared as a pinch-hitter in the sixth inning and crushed a two-run homer to left field. It marked the second time this season Bloomfield has hit a home run in a pinch-hitting appearance.

Sophia Knight (4-7) earned the victory for the Rockets with three innings of two-run relief.

QUOTING COACH BRACAMONTE
"Today's game was more than just a win for us. It was proof that when you continue to show up - regardless of how challenging, frustrating, and humbling the adversity you are facing is - you will find a way to turn things around and be better for it. This team has been through a lot over this last two week stretch but never once thought about throwing in the towel. They have continued to stay positive, support each other, and put in the work day in and day out. What we saw today was the result of resilience, persistence, resolve, and commitment. It's not always pretty or fun, but sometimes necessary to bring out the best in individuals and a team. I am incredibly proud of each and every one of them. Lots of work ahead for us but I feel extremely encouraged by what I know is left in the tank for this team."
 
Hitting Highlights

• Kendra VanderLugt – 4-for-4, 4 R, 4 RBI, 2B, 2 HR, HBP
  • First home runs of the season; fourth and fifth home runs of her career.
  • Sixth multi-hit game of the season
• Audrey Miller – 2-for-3, 2 R, 6 RBI, 2 HR, 1 SF
  • Third and fourth home runs of her career
  • Fourth multi-hit game of season
  • Career high in RBIs
• Samantha Bolding – 2-for-3, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 HR, BB
  • Third and fourth home runs of her career
  • Fifth multi-hit game of the season
• Jenna Bloomfield (PH) – 1-for-1, 1 R, HR, 2 RBI
  • Third home run of her career

Pitching Lines

• Mady Yackee – 3.0 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
• Sophia Knight (W, 4-7) – 3.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K

How It Happened

• Western Michigan got on the board first with a solo homer in the first inning.
• Samantha Bolding's two-run home run highlighted Toledo's three-run first for a 3-1 advantage..
• The Broncos blasted two home runs in the fourth to take a 6-4 lead.
• Audrey Miller crushed a grand slam to right-center to put the Rockets back in front, 8-6.
• Western Michigan made it a one-run, 8-7, game with an RBI single in the fifth.
• Five home runs in the fifth and sixth innings propelled the Rockets to the victory.

Up Next
Toledo will travel to Muncie, Ind. for a conference series against Ball State on Friday, March 21-22. The series opens on Friday at 3:00 p.m.
 
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