Toledo gets first sweep this season at Cleveland State

The University of Toledo softball team swept Horizon League leader Cleveland State on the road yesterday 4-0, 4-3. The sweep was the first for the Rockets this season and just the second time this year UT has won back-to-back games. Cleveland State had won eight of their last nine games but left 21 runners on base in the series, losing twice to the same opponent for the first time this season.

"This is just such a confidence booster for the team to take two games from Cleveland State", Toledo Head Coach Tarrah Beyster said. "This is such a big weekend coming up for us and this should give the girls motivation to keep it going."

Senior pitcher Hannah Rockhold (7-16) pitched a four-hit shutout in game one with six strikeouts and did not give up her first hit until the fourth inning.

Junior pitcher Whitney Young (2-7) gave up three runs (one earned) in game two despite giving up 14 hits.

"Both Hannah and Whitney did outstanding for us today," Beyster said. "Cleveland State swings the bat very well and for them to come in and shut down their big hitters, it really kept us in the game."

Mid-American Conference West Division Player of the Week Mica Sanchez continued her dominance at the plate yesterday. The senior catcher led the Rockets going 4 for 6 with three RBI and a home run. Freshman first baseman Erinn Wright went 3 for 6 with one RBI.

Rockhold began game one in dominating fashion as she retired the first six batters allowing the Rockets to take a 3-0 lead off a home run from Sanchez and an RBI single from Wright. The third run was scored after a wild pitch to the backstop allowed junior center fielder Kate Ricchio to touch home plate. The Vikings threatened in the bottom of the fourth with runners on the corners, but Rockhold again came up strong striking out freshman Dara Toman for the final out. Toledo added another run in the fifth thanks to a home run to center field from freshman third baseman McKenna Smith to take the 4-0 lead.

Game two began with Cleveland State taking an early 2-0 lead after four hits and an unearned run following a UT error. Toledo cut the lead to one just a half inning later after a single from freshman outfielder Lindsey Tobias scored Sanchez. The Rockets took the lead 3-2 in the top of the fourth after a triple from Sanchez scored sophomore first baseman Jillian Spink. The Vikings tied the game in the bottom of the fifth but once again Sanchez delivered, this time a double to score Spink taking a 4-3 lead in the top of the sixth.

"[Sanchez] is swinging the bat very well and came up big for us again today," Beyster said. "She has been one of our leaders all year and accepted the challenge and is coming on strong right now."

Young held off the Viking bats in the bottom of the sixth and seventh innings to earn UT's first back-to-back victories since March 20.

Toledo returns to MAC action on Friday as they travel to Athens, Ohio for a doubleheader against Ohio at 1 and 3 p.m.