YPSILANTI, Mich. – The Toledo baseball team took 2-of-3 games in the weekend series after pulling ahead to a 6-2 victory over Eastern Michigan in the series finale at Oestrike Stadium on Sunday.
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The Rockets (13-21, 7-11) never trailed in Sunday's contest, taking the lead for good in the fourth inning and doubling up EMU on the hit board, 12-6. Toledo's pitching staff and defense held the Eagles (14-17, 9-9 MAC) scoreless over the final six innings. Toledo won its second series in MAC play, having also taken 2-of-3 from Ohio.
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The win, coupled with a Central Michigan loss, puts Toledo within 1.5 games of the final MAC Tournament spot at weekend's end. The top six teams make the conference post-season tourney.
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Quoting Head Coach Rob Reinstetle
"After letting one get away from us late yesterday, we came back today and played a complete game. The pitching and defense were outstanding. We continued to swing the bats like we are capable of doing. That's a huge win that keeps us in the hunt for Avon (MAC Tournament site)."
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Top Rocket Hitters
- Cole Cahill – 3-for- 5, 1 2B, 1 R
- Third three-hit game this season
- Luke Leto – 2-for-5, 2 R, 1 SB
- Season-long five-game hitting streak
- Troy Sudbrook – 2-for-3, 1 RBI, 1 R, 1 HBP, 1 SAC FLY, 1 SB
- Cam Gravelle - 1-for-4, 2 RBI, 1 R, 1 3B, 1 SAC FLY
Pitching LinesÂ
- Brady Sasse (W, 1-2) – 5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
- First win of collegiate career
- RJ Shunck – 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K
- Ryan Kennedy – 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
How It Happened
- Tre Mariano lined a double to left center to put Toledo up 2-0 in the third.
- The Eagles strung together three-straight singles and added another on an RBI groundout to tie things 2-2 in the bottom of the frame.
- Toledo built up a 5-2 lead by the middle of the fifth on Cam Gravelle's RBI triple and Troy Sudbrook's sacrifice fly in the fourth and Josh Cote's RBI single in the fifth.
- UT loaded the bases in the seventh with one out before Cam Gravelle's sacrifice fly padded the lead to 6-2.
Up NextÂ
The Rockets will begin a five-game homestand with a matchup against Michigan at Fifth Third Field on Tuesday, April 15 at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday's game will air on BCSN and ESPN+ and tickets are available at UTRockets.com/UTvsUM.
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