Toledo finished in second place in the Mid-American Conference’s West Division after two losses this weekend at Ball State. The Cardinals took sole possession of first place for the first time this season after Thursday’s 15-6 win and clinched the West Division title after a 8-6 win Friday, the seventh title in Ball State history.
A third game was originally scheduled to take place on Saturday, but it was cancelled due to rain.
The Rockets (21-29, 14-12 MAC) held the top spot in the division for most of the season, but dropped seven of their final eight games to slip to second place behind Ball State (26-23, 14-10).
Junior Aaron Dudley (4-8, 2 R, 2 RBI, SB) led the Rockets’ offense with four hits in the series, while senior Jake Oester (2-5, HR, 3 RBI) drove in a team-high three runs.
After giving up 10 runs in the third inning, the Rockets fell 15-6 in the opening game of the series at Ball State on Thursday.
UT junior starting pitcher Justin Collop (3-7) was tagged with his seventh loss of the season after allowing 11 runs on 10 hits and two walks in just three innings of work.
Dudley (3-5, 2 RBI) led the Rockets with three hits, while sophomores Chris Dudics (2-5, R) and Jim Vahalik (2-3) also notched multi-hit performances.
Collop was relieved by freshman Alex Radon who also struggled against the Cardinals, giving up four runs in as many innings. Senior pitcher Rob Moffat closed out the game by striking out the side.
Toledo responded after an early second inning run from Ball State by scoring two in the top of the third after a two-run single by Dudley. In the bottom of the third the Cardinals struck for 10 runs, including three home runs, all off of Collop.
The Rockets scored a run in each of the next four innings, but also gave up four as they lost game one of the series 15-6.
In the final game of the week, Toledo fell 8-6 to Ball State, securing the MAC West Division title for the Cardinals.
Seven different players recorded a hit for the Rockets, who were paced offensively by Oester (2-4, HR, 3 RBI) and junior Tim Krofcheck (1-4, HR). Dudley (1-3, 2 R) and sophomore Dan Sherwood (1-4, 2 R, SB) each crossed the plate twice.
Sophomore starter Matt Kuna (4-2) earned his second loss of the year after the Cardinals struck for seven runs (six earned) on nine hits with four strikeouts in just 5.1 innings.
Toledo fell behind early as the Cardinals scored four runs off Kuna in the first. The Rockets answered in the second after a sacrifice fly from Vahalik (0-3, RBI) brought home Dudley. Toledo would tie the game in the fourth inning after a three-run home run from Oester, scoring Dudley and Sherwood. A solo home run in the fifth from Krofcheck gave the Rockets their first lead, 5-4. After giving up a run in the fifth, Toledo would again pull in front after an RBI double from freshman Joe Corfman (1-1, RBI), giving UT a 6-5 lead. Unfortunately for the Rockets, Ball State’s title hopes would not be dashed as the Cardinals would score two in the sixth inning and one in the seventh for an 8-6 lead which they would not relinquish.
The Rockets will take the field again next Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. in Chillicothe, Ohio for the MAC Tournament. The sixth-seeded Rockets will take on the third-seeded Ohio Bobcats (28-22, 18-9) in the opening game.
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