Friday, April 10
Kalamazoo, Mich.
3:05 p.m.
University of Toledo
16-17, 12-4
3
at
2
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Western Michigan
15-15, 10-6
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toledo | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 0 |
| Western Michigan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 2 |
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Leininger, Nathan (7-0)
L: VRIESENGA, Zach (2-2)
S: Langbehn, Nate (3)
Batting:
2B: Baker, Cade 1 ; Walton, Luke 1 ; Wagner, JP 1
RBI: Baker, Cade 1 ; Sudbrook, Troy 1 ; McCaleb, Carson 1
SH: McCaleb, Carson 1 ; Arsich, Liam 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Baker, Cade 2 ; Wagner, JP 1
SB: Baker, Cade 1 ; Sudbrook, Troy 1
CS: McCranie, Alex 1
HBP: Payne, Jacob 2 ; McCranie, Alex 1
.png&width=32&height=32&type=webp)
Batting:
RBI: MALONEY, Michael 1
Base Running:
RUNS: MALLY, Tanner 1 ; HUMS, Cooper 1
CS: HUMS, Cooper 1
HBP: ZAJAC, Nolan 1
Game Leaders
AB
5
R
2
H
3
RBI
1
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballC
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
Senior Nathan Leininger threw seven shutout innings for his seventh-straight win in Toledo's 3-2 victory at Western Michigan on Friday.
Photo by: Bree Bee
Rockets Hold Down Western Michigan in Series Opener, 3-2
4/10/2026 6:32:00 PM | Baseball
Nathan Leininger throws seven shutout innings and Cade Baker tallies three hits and scores twice
KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Toledo baseball team used three early runs and Nathan Leininger's seven shutout innings for a 3-2 victory against Western Michigan in a Mid-American Conference series opener on Friday.
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The Rockets (16-17, 12-4 MAC) plated runs with two outs in each of the first, second and fifth innings for a 3-0 lead. The Broncos (15-15, 10-6) scored two and closed within a run in the eighth inning, but the Rockets used a double play in the eighth to prevent further damage and held the Broncos off the scoreboard in the ninth. Toledo has won six of its last seven MAC games and is 8-1 in series openers this season.
The win coupled with a Kent State loss moves Toledo into a tie for first place in the MAC standings after Friday's action.
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Junior Cade Baker had three hits, including two doubles, scored twice and added an RBI. Junior Carson McCaleb and redshirt junior Troy Sudbrook also contributed RBIs.
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Leininger (7-0) tossed 7.0 shutout innings, allowing just five hits with four strikeouts and two walks. The seven innings were the second-longest of the season for Leininger, who won his seventh-straight start. Leininger also held the nation's batting average leader, Tanner Mally (.495 entering Friday), to 0-for-3 in three matchups. Redshirt freshman Nate Langbehn picked up his third save of the season, striking out the side in the ninth to preserve the one-run victory.
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The Rockets and Broncos will continue the series on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.
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Quoting Head Coach Rob Reinstetle
"That's a huge win on a Friday on the road. The offense and defense both did what they needed to do. It was a really good team win. From here on out, all of these games are meaningful when everyone is nipping at your heels. Nate Leininger was really good again tonight and Nate Langbehn finished it off after a rough start. The challenge, as always, is to come back tomorrow and play another good game."
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Top Rocket Hitters
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The Rockets (16-17, 12-4 MAC) plated runs with two outs in each of the first, second and fifth innings for a 3-0 lead. The Broncos (15-15, 10-6) scored two and closed within a run in the eighth inning, but the Rockets used a double play in the eighth to prevent further damage and held the Broncos off the scoreboard in the ninth. Toledo has won six of its last seven MAC games and is 8-1 in series openers this season.
The win coupled with a Kent State loss moves Toledo into a tie for first place in the MAC standings after Friday's action.
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Junior Cade Baker had three hits, including two doubles, scored twice and added an RBI. Junior Carson McCaleb and redshirt junior Troy Sudbrook also contributed RBIs.
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Leininger (7-0) tossed 7.0 shutout innings, allowing just five hits with four strikeouts and two walks. The seven innings were the second-longest of the season for Leininger, who won his seventh-straight start. Leininger also held the nation's batting average leader, Tanner Mally (.495 entering Friday), to 0-for-3 in three matchups. Redshirt freshman Nate Langbehn picked up his third save of the season, striking out the side in the ninth to preserve the one-run victory.
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The Rockets and Broncos will continue the series on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.
Â
Quoting Head Coach Rob Reinstetle
"That's a huge win on a Friday on the road. The offense and defense both did what they needed to do. It was a really good team win. From here on out, all of these games are meaningful when everyone is nipping at your heels. Nate Leininger was really good again tonight and Nate Langbehn finished it off after a rough start. The challenge, as always, is to come back tomorrow and play another good game."
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Top Rocket Hitters
- Cade Baker – 3-for-5, 1 RBI, 2 runs, 2 2B, 1 SB
- Troy Sudbrook – 1-for-4, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 SB
- Carson McCaleb – 1-for-4, 1 RBI
- Luke Walton – 1-for-3, 1 2B, 1 BB
- Nathan Leininger (W, 7-0) – 7.0 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 Ks
- Nate Langbehn (SV, 3) – 2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 Ks
- Toledo put two on with two out in the first when Carson McCaleb lined an RBI single to right field for a 1-0 Rocket lead.
- Back-to-back two-out doubles by JP Wagner and Cade Baker added another run in the second.
- Baker doubled again in the fifth and was brought home two batters later by Troy Sudbrook's RBI single for a 3-0 lead.
- The Broncos put runners on first and second with one out in the seventh, but Nathan Leininger rallied for a flyout and a strikeout to get out of the jam.
- Western Michigan loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the eighth. A groundball double play scored a run, before a two-out single cut the deficit to 3-2.
- Nate Langbehn struck out the side in order in the ninth for the victory.
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