UT picks up first MAC victory against Bulls

The University of Toledo’s baseball team ended a five-game losing streak with a 3-2 win in the final game of a three-game series with Buffalo.

Toledo opened up Mid-American Conference play losing 13-7 in the series opener on Friday and then falling 6-4 on Saturday.

“I know we can play better than we did this weekend,” Head Coach Cory Mee said. “I really like the way we competed in the Friday and Saturday games; we fell behind and then generated comebacks in both games to give us a chance to win.”

After the weekend, UT moves to 4-20-1 on the season and 1-2 in the MAC.

In the opening game of the series, the Rockets jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first off a solo home run to field by sophomore A.J. Montoya.

Buffalo tied things up at one in the top of the third inning before taking a two-run lead in the next inning.

UT answered right back with a two-run inning of their own when senior John Martillotta drove in sophomore Dalton Bollinger and senior Deion Tansel with a single up the middle to make the score 3-3.

Buffalo scored again in the fifth inning when juniors Vinny Mallaro and Chris Kwitzer both hit RBI singles to take the lead at 5-3.

The game fell apart for the Rockets in the sixth inning when Buffalo scored five runs, including two two-run home runs and a sacrifice fly to extend their lead to 10-3.

Toledo scored three runs in the seventh inning with a single by Tansel that brought in Hansen and Montoya. Then, freshman Ross Adolph RBI single scored Hansen to make the score 10-6.

Tansel cut the deficit to 3 when he hit an RBI double in the eighth inning to make the score 10-7.

Buffalo added three insurance runs in the ninth inning to put their lead out of reach.

Junior Steven Calhoun picked up the loss after throwing four and a third innings and allowing four earned runs to cross the plate.

Tansel paced the Rockets offensively, going 2-for-4 at the plate with one double. Martillotta had two RBIs and Adolph had one.

On Saturday, the Rockets took a 1-0 lead when Bollinger hit a single down the left field line to bring in Tansel.

The Bulls struck back with two runs in the top of the second inning to make the score 2-1. Senior Bobby Sheppard ripped a single down the right field line to tie it and senior Mike Abrunzo walked with the bases loaded to take the lead.

Vinny Mallaro hit a two-run home run to give Buffalo a 4-1 lead in the fifth. UB scored in the next inning off of a throwing error to help extend their lead to four.

Toledo got to within one run after a 2 RBI single to left field from Martillota with the bases loaded. Senior Ryan Callahan singled to right to make it 5-4.

Buffalo added some insurance in the eighth inning when Chris Kwitzer smacked an RBI double to left field.

Senior Kyle Slack earned the loss for Toledo after throwing three innings and allowing two earned runs. Freshman Michael Jacob pitched in relief for UT and did not give up a run and struck out two batters.

“Michael pitched very good,” Mee said. “He has such a presence on the mound, you can really see the competitiveness ooze from him and the energy he brings to the game when he takes the mound, you can sense that.”

On Sunday the pitchers got the best of both teams with only seven combined hits. Toledo picked up their first MAC win scoring 3 runs off of two hits.

In the bottom of the fourth Toledo got the scoring going with a fielder’s choice that brought in Tansel to give the Rockets a 1-0 lead.

Buffalo took the lead right back in the fifth when Sheppard hit a two RBI double to right-center field, giving UB a 2-1 advantage. UT tied the game in the bottom half of the frame with a solo homerun by Montoya.

The Rockets scored the go-ahead run in the sixth inning when Adolph scored from third base on a passed ball.

Senior Caleb Schillace earned his first win of the season after throwing three innings in relief. Jacob closed the door in the bottom of the ninth to pick up his third save of the season.

Toledo returns to the diamond Wednesday, March 30 when they travel to Columbus to take on the Buckeyes. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35.