Saturday, May 23
Avon, Ohio
11:00 a.m.
University of Toledo
32-28
5
vs
2
Kent State
42-15
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toledo | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 0 |
| Kent State | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 1 |
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Langbehn, Nate (2-4)
L: Gavin Jones (3-3)
S: Hughes, Ryan (1)
Batting:
2B: Wagner, JP 2
HR: Sudbrook, Troy 1
RBI: Sudbrook, Troy 1 ; Wagner, JP 1 ; Baker, Cade 1 ; Walton, Luke 1
SH: Sudbrook, Ryan 1
SF: Walton, Luke 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Arsich, Liam 1 ; Sudbrook, Troy 2 ; Cahill, Cole 1 ; Payne, Jacob 1
SB: Arsich, Liam 1 ; Payne, Jacob 2
HBP: Arsich, Liam 1 ; Payne, Jacob 1
PO: Arsich, Liam 1
Batting:
HR: Ripken Reese 1
RBI: Brady Marshall 1 ; Ripken Reese 1
SF: Brady Marshall 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Ripken Reese 1 ; Micah Rienstra-Kirac 1
SB: Brady Marshall 1
HBP: Brady Marshall 1 ; Alejandro Covas 2
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballC/1B
/ BaseballINF
/ BaseballINF
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OF
/ Baseball
Nate Langbehn pitched 7.0 innings with just two runs allowed and six strikeouts to win an elimination game, 5-2 over Kent State.
Photo by: David Dermer
Rockets Advance to MAC Championship Game After 5-2 Win Over Kent State
5/23/2026 3:36:00 PM | Baseball
Toledo earns second consecutive appearance in tournament title game
AVON, Ohio – The Toledo baseball team clinched its spot in the Mid-American Conference championship game for the second-straight season after eliminating Kent State 5-2 at ForeFront Field on Saturday afternoon.
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With the win, the Rockets will move into the championship game in a rematch with No. 4 seed Northern Illinois. The two teams are scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. Saturday at ForeFront Field. With a win, Toledo would force a winner-take-all game on Sunday. Toledo will make its fourth all-time championship game appearance.
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The Rockets (32-28) scored three times in the first two innings and held a 4-1 edge through four. The Golden Flashes (42-15) could not get closer than three the rest of the game. Toledo eliminated Kent State from the MAC Tournament for the third-straight season and own a 4-0 tournament record against the Golden Flashes the last two years. UT has won six elimination games in its last three tournaments.
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Junior JP Wagner put up a 3-for-4 day with two doubles and an RBI. Juniors Troy Sudbrook and Jacob Payne each produced two-hit days, with Sudbrook homering and scoring two runs. Payne added a run scored and two stolen bases.
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In his first career start, Nate Langbehn (2-4) was stout, pitching seven innings with two runs allowed on six hits, and six strikeouts to two walks. He escaped two bases-loaded jams with only one run allowed between them. Ryan Hughes picked up the save with two scoreless innings.
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Quoting Head Coach Rob Reinstetle
"So proud of the way we bounced back from a disappointing loss last night. We played a complete game today. Nate Langbehn was simply heroic in his outing. He kept Kent State's offense down all day. Ryan Hughes was brilliant in his two innings of work. The offense struck first and set the tone for the day. We're in the championship game for consecutive years. We need to play well and finish this thing off."
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Top Rocket Hitters
The Rockets will face No. 4 seed Northern Illinois at 6 p.m. on Saturday. Toledo will look to force a winner-take-all game on Sunday. Streaming will be on ESPN+ and tickets are available at getsomemaction.com.
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With the win, the Rockets will move into the championship game in a rematch with No. 4 seed Northern Illinois. The two teams are scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. Saturday at ForeFront Field. With a win, Toledo would force a winner-take-all game on Sunday. Toledo will make its fourth all-time championship game appearance.
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The Rockets (32-28) scored three times in the first two innings and held a 4-1 edge through four. The Golden Flashes (42-15) could not get closer than three the rest of the game. Toledo eliminated Kent State from the MAC Tournament for the third-straight season and own a 4-0 tournament record against the Golden Flashes the last two years. UT has won six elimination games in its last three tournaments.
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Junior JP Wagner put up a 3-for-4 day with two doubles and an RBI. Juniors Troy Sudbrook and Jacob Payne each produced two-hit days, with Sudbrook homering and scoring two runs. Payne added a run scored and two stolen bases.
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In his first career start, Nate Langbehn (2-4) was stout, pitching seven innings with two runs allowed on six hits, and six strikeouts to two walks. He escaped two bases-loaded jams with only one run allowed between them. Ryan Hughes picked up the save with two scoreless innings.
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Quoting Head Coach Rob Reinstetle
"So proud of the way we bounced back from a disappointing loss last night. We played a complete game today. Nate Langbehn was simply heroic in his outing. He kept Kent State's offense down all day. Ryan Hughes was brilliant in his two innings of work. The offense struck first and set the tone for the day. We're in the championship game for consecutive years. We need to play well and finish this thing off."
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Top Rocket Hitters
- Troy Sudbrook – 2-for-5, HR (11), 2 runs, 1 RBI
- JP Wagner – 3-for-4, 2 2B, 1 RBI
- Jacob Payne – 2-for-3, 1 run, 1 HBP, 2 SB
- Nate Langbehn (W, 2-4) – 7.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 Ks
- Ryan Hughes (SV, 1) – 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
- Toledo put its first two runners on base, before a ground rule double by JP Wagner followed by an RBI groundout by Cade Baker gave the Rockets a 2-0 lead.
- With runners on the corners in the second, a double steal brought home Jacob Payne for a 3-0 lead.
- The Golden Flashes loaded the bases on walks in the second inning, but could not score after a flyout.
- Toledo again combined on a pair of hits and Luke Walton added a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning for a 4-0 edge.
- Ripken Reese homered in the bottom of the fourth to put Kent State on the board, 4-1.
- The lead held until the seventh, when an opposite-field solo home run by Troy Sudbrook made things 5-1.
- The Golden Flashes loaded the bases with no outs in the seventh, bringing the tying run to the plate, but two flyouts and a strikeout ended the inning with just one run scored.
The Rockets will face No. 4 seed Northern Illinois at 6 p.m. on Saturday. Toledo will look to force a winner-take-all game on Sunday. Streaming will be on ESPN+ and tickets are available at getsomemaction.com.
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