Wednesday, May 20
Avon, Ohio
12:30 p.m.
University of Toledo
30-27
8
vs
2
Ball State
25-29
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ball State | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 1 |
| Toledo | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | X | 8 | 12 | 1 |
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Leininger, Nathan (9-1)
L: Brendan Garza (4-6)
Batting:
2B: Brayden Huebner 1 ; Gavin Balius 1
RBI: Kenskey Thomas 1 ; Max Kalk 1
SF: Max Kalk 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Brett Griffiths 2
Batting:
2B: Baker, Cade 2
HR: Sudbrook, Troy 1
RBI: Sudbrook, Troy 2 ; Baker, Cade 1 ; Cahill, Cole 2 ; Payne, Jacob 2 ; Sudbrook, Ryan 1
SH: Payne, Jacob 1
SF: Cahill, Cole 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Sudbrook, Troy 1 ; Scholvin, Charlie 1 ; Wagner, JP 2 ; Baker, Cade 2 ; Cahill, Cole 1 ; Tajblik, Drew 1
SB: Sudbrook, Troy 1 ; Scholvin, Charlie 1
HBP: Wagner, JP 1
Game Leaders
AB
5
R
1
H
3
RBI
2
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
1
AB
5
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Baseball
1B/OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
C/1B
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
INF
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
Nathan Leininger threw a complete game, allowing just two runs and striking out eight in Toledo's 8-2 MAC Tournament win over Ball State on Wednesday.
Photo by: David Dermer
Rockets Surge to 8-2 Tournament-Opening Win Over Ball State
5/20/2026 4:29:00 PM | Baseball
Nathan Leininger strikes out eight in complete-game performance
AVON, Ohio – The Toledo baseball team got its 2026 MAC Tournament run off to a winning start, using big fourth and fifth innings for an 8-2 victory over Ball State at ForeFront Field on Wednesday.
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With the win, the Rockets advance in the winner's bracket to face No. 2 seed Kent State on Thursday, in a rematch of their final regular season series.
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Tied at 1-1 after three innings, the Rockets (30-27) bolted into the lead by scoring three runs apiece in the fourth and fifth innings to open up a 7-1 lead. The cushion was plenty enough to last the rest of the way, with starting pitcher Nathan Leininger putting up zeroes on the board. Toledo won its MAC Tournament opener for the second consecutive season (Bowling Green, 2025).
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Redshirt junior Troy Sudbrook led the Rockets' attack with three hits that included a first-inning home run. Juniors Charlie Scholvin and Cade Baker each tallied two hits. Sudbrook along with juniors Cole Cahill and Jacob Payne each contributed two RBIs. Six Rockets crossed the plate today, including two scores each from Baker and junior JP Wagner.
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Nathan Leininger, who was named the MAC Pitcher of the Year earlier in the day, threw the program's first nine-inning complete game since May 18, 2018. He allowed just two runs on eight hits and struck out eight. Leininger got out of bases-loaded jams in the fourth and seventh innings without a run scoring.
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With the win, Toledo earned its second-straight 30-win season. 2025 (32 wins) and 2026 mark just the second time in program history with 30 wins in back-to-back seasons and the first time since 1976-77.
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Quoting Head Coach Rob Reinstetle
"That was a huge win to open the tournament. Nate showed why he was the MAC Pitcher of the Year. He was everything an ace is supposed to be, throwing a complete game and saving our bullpen. The offense was outstanding today. We had great at-bats one through nine in the order. We had numerous clutch hits to keep innings going and to score runs. That timely hitting is a huge part of winning games in these tournaments. We now get to take on a talented Kent State club tomorrow. We just played them last week and it'll be another battle of the titans."
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Top Rocket Hitters
The Rockets will face No. 2 seed Kent State in a winner's bracket matchup on Thursday, May 21 at 6:00 p.m. Streaming will be on ESPN+. Tickets are available at getsomemaction.com.
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With the win, the Rockets advance in the winner's bracket to face No. 2 seed Kent State on Thursday, in a rematch of their final regular season series.
Â
Tied at 1-1 after three innings, the Rockets (30-27) bolted into the lead by scoring three runs apiece in the fourth and fifth innings to open up a 7-1 lead. The cushion was plenty enough to last the rest of the way, with starting pitcher Nathan Leininger putting up zeroes on the board. Toledo won its MAC Tournament opener for the second consecutive season (Bowling Green, 2025).
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Redshirt junior Troy Sudbrook led the Rockets' attack with three hits that included a first-inning home run. Juniors Charlie Scholvin and Cade Baker each tallied two hits. Sudbrook along with juniors Cole Cahill and Jacob Payne each contributed two RBIs. Six Rockets crossed the plate today, including two scores each from Baker and junior JP Wagner.
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Nathan Leininger, who was named the MAC Pitcher of the Year earlier in the day, threw the program's first nine-inning complete game since May 18, 2018. He allowed just two runs on eight hits and struck out eight. Leininger got out of bases-loaded jams in the fourth and seventh innings without a run scoring.
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With the win, Toledo earned its second-straight 30-win season. 2025 (32 wins) and 2026 mark just the second time in program history with 30 wins in back-to-back seasons and the first time since 1976-77.
Â
Quoting Head Coach Rob Reinstetle
"That was a huge win to open the tournament. Nate showed why he was the MAC Pitcher of the Year. He was everything an ace is supposed to be, throwing a complete game and saving our bullpen. The offense was outstanding today. We had great at-bats one through nine in the order. We had numerous clutch hits to keep innings going and to score runs. That timely hitting is a huge part of winning games in these tournaments. We now get to take on a talented Kent State club tomorrow. We just played them last week and it'll be another battle of the titans."
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Top Rocket Hitters
- Troy Sudbrook – 3-for-5, HR (10), 2 RBIs, 1 run, 1 SB
- Charlie Scholvin – 2-for-5, 1 run, 1 SB
- Cade Baker – 2-for-4, 1 RBI, 2 runs, 2 2B
- Cole Cahill – 1-for-3, 2 RBIs, 1 run, 1 sac fly
- Jacob Payne – 1-for-3, 2 RBIs
- Nathan Leininger (W, 9-1) – 9.0 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 8 Ks
- Troy Sudbrook opened the scoring with a solo home run to right field in the first.
- The Cardinals put runners on the corners, then scored the tying run on a sacrifice fly in the second.
- Ball State loaded the bases with one out in the fourth, but Nathan Leininger got out of the jam with two groundouts to keep the game tied, 1-1.
- In the bottom of the fourth, Toledo put its first three batters on base, with Cole Cahill putting Toledo in front, 2-1. Then, Jacob Payne's RBI sacrifice bunt and Ryan Sudbrook's two-out RBI single put the Rockets ahead, 4-1.
- The Rockets added three more runs in the fifth on a double from Cade Baker, a sac fly from Cahill and a two-out RBI single for a 7-1 edge.
- Down 7-2, the Cardinals loaded the bases with two outs in the sixth, but a strikeout from Leininger ended the threat.
- Sudbrook added another Toledo run in the eighth on an RBI single.
The Rockets will face No. 2 seed Kent State in a winner's bracket matchup on Thursday, May 21 at 6:00 p.m. Streaming will be on ESPN+. Tickets are available at getsomemaction.com.
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