University of Toledo
29-27, 21-12
Kent State
40-13, 24-9
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kent St. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 13 | 0 |
| Toledo | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | X | 9 | 11 | 1 |
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Fliss, Michael (4-1)
L: Ben Rabatin (7-3)
Batting:
2B: Luke Matthews 1 ; Ripken Reese 1
HR: Ripken Reese 1
RBI: Luke Matthews 1 ; Sawyer Solitaria 1 ; Ripken Reese 1 ; Micah Rienstra-Kiracofe 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Alejandro Covas 1 ; Brady Marshall 2 ; Ripken Reese 1 ; Micah Rienstra-Kiracofe 1 ; Kolton Schaller 1
SB: Alejandro Covas 1
CS: Micah Rienstra-Kiracofe 1
HBP: Kolton Schaller 1
Batting:
2B: Arsich, Liam 1
HR: Baker, Cade 1 ; Cahill, Cole 1
RBI: Arsich, Liam 2 ; Scholvin, Charlie 1 ; Wagner, JP 2 ; Baker, Cade 2 ; Cahill, Cole 1 ; Sudbrook, Ryan 1
SH: Sudbrook, Ryan 1
SF: Wagner, JP 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Arsich, Liam 2 ; Sudbrook, Troy 1 ; Scholvin, Charlie 1 ; Baker, Cade 2 ; Cahill, Cole 1 ; Walton, Luke 1 ; Sudbrook, Ryan 1
SB: Scholvin, Charlie 1 ; Baker, Cade 1
HBP: Scholvin, Charlie 1 ; Baker, Cade 1
Game Leaders
Early Offense Lifts Rockets to 9-6 Senior Day Victory over Kent State
5/16/2026 6:22:00 PM | Baseball
Toledo earns No. 3 seed in Mid-American Conference Tournament
TOLEDO, Ohio - The Toledo baseball team scored seven times in the first four innings, building up enough of a margin to fend off a late rally in a 9-6 victory over Kent State on Senior Day in the regular season finale at Scott Park on Saturday.
With the victory and Northern Illinois' loss, the Rockets moved up to the No. 3 seed in the Mid-American Conference Tournament, where they will begin play on Wednesday in Avon, Ohio.
Toledo (29-27, 21-12 MAC) got ahead out of the gate, putting up three-run innings in the first and the fourth, and adding one run each in the third, fifth and seventh innings. Down 9-2, the Golden Flashes (40-13, 24-9 MAC) scored three times in the eighth and got the tying run to the plate in the ninth, but Toledo's bullpen held off the rally to finish the game.
The Rockets' offense got multi-hit games from redshirt junior Luke Walton, junior Troy Sudbrook and freshman Liam Arsich. Eight Rockets collected a hit on the day. Arsich, junior JP Wagner and junior Cade Baker each collected multi-RBI games. Seven Rockets scored a run on the afternoon, with Arsich and Baker each crossing the plate twice. Toledo scored six of its nine runs with two outs.
Redshirt freshman Michael Fliss threw 6.0 solid innings, allowing two runs, scattering eight hits and striking out eight batters to one walk. Fliss went 4-0 over his final five starts of the regular season with a 3.33 ERA and 39 strikeouts in 27.0 innings pitched.
Toledo's .636 winning percentage in the MAC this season is its best under Head Coach Rob Reinstetle. The Rockets won 7-of-11 MAC series and did not get swept during conference play. Toledo's No. 3 seed is the second-highest in four appearances under Reinstetle.
Before the game, Toledo honored seven seniors - Cole Meyer, Saborn Campbell, Deron Swanson, Cole Giesige, Ryan Kennedy, Luke Walton and Nathan Leininger.
Quoting Head Coach Rob Reinstetle
"I'm really proud of the way we finished off the regular season today. We battled and lost two really close games (on Thursday and Friday), so it was awesome to come out and win the way we did today. We finished third in the league, and head into the tournament with some confidence and on a positive note. Michael Fliss gave us another outstanding start on the mound, and Nate Langbehn and Ryan Hughes were outstanding in relief. The difference today compared to the first two games was simple - our offense found a way to get the clutch hits when we needed them. To win the tournament, we will need to continue to get great starting pitching, play good defense, and swing the bats like we are capable."
Top Rocket Hitters
- Liam Arsich - 2-for-4, 2 RBIs, 2 runs, 1 2B, 1 BB
- Troy Sudbrook - 2-for-4, 1 run, 1 BB
- Cade Baker - 1-for-3, HR (8), 2 RBIs, 2 runs, 1 HBP, 1 SB
- Cole Cahill - 1-for-3, HR (2), 1 RBI, 1 run, 1 BB
- Luke Walton - 2-for-2, 1 run
Pitching Lines
- Michael Fliss (W, 4-1) - 6.0 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 8 Ks
- Ryan Hughes -1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
How it Happened
- Singles by Liam Arsich and Troy Sudbrook, followed by a sac fly by JP Wagner combined for the first run of the game. Then, a two-run blast to left by Cade Baker put the Rockets up 3-0 in the first inning.
- Toledo staged a two-out rally in the third, with Wagner's RBI single bringing home another run for a 4-0 edge.
- The Golden Flashes got on the board in the top of the fourth on a wild pitch.
- With two outs in the bottom of the fourth, Arsich delivered a two-run double to left and Charlie Scholvin added a single for a 7-1 Toledo lead.
- Toledo loaded the bases in the fifth and added another run on Ryan Sudbrook's sacrifice fly.
- Kent State and the Rockets traded solo home runs, with Ripken Reese going deep in the top of the sixth and Cole Cahill going deep in the bottom of the sixth.
- KSU scored three times in the eighth inning to cut the deficit to 9-5 on a wild pitch, RBI groundout and two-out single.
- The Golden Flashes got a two-out RBI single to cut the deficit further and bring the tying run to the plate, but a groundout ended the game.
Up Next
The Rockets will begin the Mid-American Conference Tournament on Wednesday, May 20, taking on No. 6 seed Ball State. First pitch is at 12:30 p.m. from ForeFront Field in Avon, Ohio on ESPN+. Tickets are available at getsomemaction.com.
