DAYTON, OH - Toledo dropped the second game of today's non-conference doubleheader against Dayton, 13-12, at Time Warner Cable Stadium. The Rockets suffered a 1-0 setback in the opening contest.
UT mounted a courageous comeback in the nightcap scoring six runs in the seventh inning to draw the teams even at 12-12, but was unable to hold the momentum as UD tallied a run in the bottom of the frame to complete the sweep. Including today's doubleheader, the Midnight Blue and Gold have played 11 one-run contests in 2005 and are 3-8 in those games.
Junior 3B Dan Stong (4-for-5, 3 RBI, 2 runs scored), senior 2B Matt Ruth (3-for-3, 3 runs scored, 2 RBI) and junior SS Jason Watson (2-for-3, 2 runs scored) registered at least two hits for the Rockets. Stong finished the doubleheader with six hits total.
Freshman RHP Chris Fields (0-1), one of five UT hurlers, took the loss in relief and allowed the game-winning run on three hits in 0.2 of an inning.
Dayton finished with 15 hits, including nine for extra-base hits and four home runs. Seven of its nine position players collected a hit and five had multi-hit contests. Bryan Chandler and Aaron Hepler paced the UD attack with three hits a piece, while Brandon Godzik belted a pair of home runs.
Craig Rohren (1-2) earned the victory, despite surrendering six runs on six hits and two walks in one inning of relief.
The Flyers jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a RBI double by William Benoit and two-run home run by Godzik.
The Flyers pushed their lead to 6-0 in the second inning on a two-run home home run by Michael Massa and a RBI single by Chandler to chase UT sophomore RHP Greg Gompf. Gompf allowed the six runs on four hits in only 1.1 innings pitched.
Toledo cut the lead in half in the third inning, plating three runs on the strength of three hits. Watson began the frame with a single up the middle and advanced to second on a balk. Matt Ruth followed with a bunt single, before freshman CF Drew Hoisington belted a RBI double into the gap in right-center to score Watson and move Ruth into scoring position. The Rockets then tallied their second run on RBI groundout by Stong and their final tally came on a groundout by freshman LF Pat Rohrbaugh to make the score 6-3.
After giving up a fourth in the fourth on Godzik's second round-tripper of the afternoon, Toledo trimmed the lead to 7-5 in the fifth, plating two runs on only one hit. Matt Ruth led off getting hit by a pitch. After Hoisington popped out to the shortstop, Stong singled down the left-field line advancing Ruth to third. UD left fielder Chandler tried to cut down Ruth at third on the play and allowed Stong to take second base. Visser then grounded out to shortstop but scored Ruth and moved Stong to third. On the ensuing batter, Stong scored UT's other run on a wild pitch from UD starter John Baird to cut the lead to two runs.
The Rockets made it a one-run contest in the sixth on a run-scoring single by Matt Ruth. Sophomore 1B Ryan Laude struck out to start the inning but Bairds' third strike got away from UD catcher Hepner and allowed Laude to advance to first. Laude advanced to second on a wild pitch and came around to score on Ruth's third RBI of the season and make the score 7-6.
As quickly as UT had cut the lead to one run, UD looked to have the game in control in the sixth inning with five runs, including a home run by Galen Schumm and a RBI double by Chandler.
But the Rockets refused to quit in the seventh and registered six runs on six hits to knot the score at 12-12. Toledo would send 11 players to the plate in the frame against Rohren. Stong led off with a single and Visser walked to put two runners on base. Rohren then looked to have settled down and retired the next two batters and leave the Rockets with only one out to work with. Senior C Dan Ruth put UT on the board in the frame with a three-run home run to left-center. Three consecutive singles by freshman DH Scott Boley, Watson and Matt Ruth ensued to cut the lead to 12-10. After junior Travis Pilewski walked to load the bases, Stong ripped a two-run single into the gap in right-center to tie the score.
Unfortunately in the bottom half of the seventh, Dayton strung together a pair of hits and an intentional walk off Fields to secure the victory. With one out, Benoit double to right field and Roberto Ramos was intentionally walked to create a force out at any base. Much to the dismay of the Rockets, UD's Chandler laced a single over the head of Matt Ruth at second base to drive in the winning run.
Toledo returns to action this weekend, May 13-16, with a three-game series at arch-rival Bowling Green. Friday's first pitch from Warren E. Stellar Field is slated for 3:00 p.m., while Saturday's and Sunday's is 1:00 p.m.
