Toledo come up empty-handed on road against conference foe

The Rockets softball team traveled to Mount Pleasant to take on Central Michigan where they lost all three games in the weekend series. With the loses, UT falls to 8-31 and 3-11 in the Mid-American Conference play.

Toledo lost game one 1-2 on a heartbreaking walk-off home run by Katelyn Rentschler. UT did not fare well in Saturday’s doubleheader losing both games 12-3 and 9-1.

The Rocket offense struggled the entire series managing only five runs and with no players recording a multi-hit game.

In game one, senior Marla Gooding pitched six innings allowing only two runs on six hits. Her counterpart Rachel Knapp struck out seven batters for the Chippewas on her way to a victory.

Junior Celeste Fidge doubled to right field to begin the action in the top of the second inning. She later scored the first run of the game on an infield fly. Toledo led 1-0 after two innings.

With two outs in the bottom of the fourth, Rentschler put Central Michigan on the board with a blast to straight away center field to even the score at one.

UT could not take advantage of several errors in the top of the sixth inning with the bases loaded. Senior Jessica Lemieux was thrown out at the plate before Fidge grounded out to leave two runners on base.

After three up and three down for UT in the top of the seventh, it only took one batter for the Chippewas to end the game. Rentschler hit a walk-off home run to center for her second-long ball of the game.

The momentum carried to the next day for Central Michigan as they exploded for a nine-run fifth inning to win the first of two games Saturday.

Toledo junior Brittany George got things going early in the top of the first with a three run blast for an early advantage.

In the bottom of the second Rachel Vieira responded for the Chippewas with a bases loaded RBI single. After a force out at home Sara Hansen lined out to second base to leave three runners on.

Freshman Kimberly Frank only lasted two batters in the fifth inning as she allowed two runs without recording an out.

In relief freshman Heather Webb did not fare much better giving up an RBI to three straight batters to cap off a seven hit nine run inning for Central.

Vieira hit another home run in the bottom of sixth putting Central Michigan ahead 12-3 and putting the mercy rule into effect.

CMU completed to sweep of UT by scoring nine runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings in the second game of the doubleheader.

Webb got the start for Toledo allowing four runs on seven hits in five inning of work. Gooding gave up for runs as well in just 0.2 innings of relief.

The scoring began in the top of the second as Toledo sophomore Ashley Rausch doubled home a run from first.

In the bottom of the fourth Chelsea DeLamielleure put Central Michigan on the board with a solo home run off Webb.

The Chippewas really got things going in the fifth inning when Allison Curtis hit a lead-off triple. Sydney Heath later doubled home a pair of runs before scoring two batters later putting Central up 4-1 after five innings.

UT left one on base in the top of the sixth before Central Michigan once again put the Mercy rule into effect.

With two outs and the bases loaded Maison Kalina hit a bases clearing triple to put Central Michigan ahead 9-1 and ending the game.

Toledo will look to end their six-game losing streak on Wednesday, April 20 as they play a doubleheader against Indiana Purdue Fort Wayne at Scott Park. The games begin at 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.