TOLEDO, Ohio – The Toledo baseball team came back from a five-run deficit for the second time this week, as
Caden Konczak's three-run home run in the eighth inning capped a 7-6 victory over East Tennessee State at Scott Park on Saturday
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The Rockets (18-24) trailed 6-1 in the third inning after two home runs from the Buccaneers (29-12). However, Toledo put up six runs against the ETSU bullpen, manufacturing three runs in the sixth before Konczak's winning long ball in the eighth.
Jackson Bergman and
Braden Curry held ETSU scoreless over the final six innings to help Toledo get back into the game.
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Quoting Head Coach Rob Reinstetle
"That was a big-time win today. I'm proud of the way we fought back to grab that victory from a good team. Bergman and Curry threw the ball well and gave our offense a chance to get back into the game, capped with Konczak's huge game-winning home run. It's a bye week from MAC play but it feels like a MAC series. We have a chance to win it tomorrow and I expect us to come ready to go."
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Top Rocket Hitters
- Caden Konczak – 3-for-4, HR (8), 5 RBIs, 1 R, 1 BB
- Game-winning, three-run home run in the eighth inning
- Tied career high in RBIs
- Brayden White – 2-for-4, 1 2B, 1 R
- Tre Mariano – 1-for-2, 1 R, 2 BB
Pitching LinesÂ
- Jackson Bergman – 6.1 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 5 Ks
- Braden Curry (W, 2-0) – 2.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 pick-off
How It Happened
- ETSU opened up an early 3-0 lead on an RBI groundout and a two-run home run by Cooper Torres.
- Back-to-back singles led to a Rocket run in the bottom of the first on a Charlie Scholvin RBI groundout.
- Tristan Curless' two-out, three-run long ball extended the Bucs' advantage to 6-1 in the third.
- Toledo loaded the bases and struck three times on Luke Leto's walk and Caden Konczak's two-run single to cut the deficit to 6-4 in the sixth.
- In the eighth, a single and a walk put runners on first and second, before Konczak stepped to the plate and sent a home run into the right field trees for a 7-6.
- Braden Curry recorded two quick outs in the ninth. After surrendering a single, a fielder's choice ended the game.
Up NextÂ
The Rockets finish the series with the Buccaneers on Sunday, April 27. The series finale will begin at 1:00 on ESPN+.
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