In its season-opening game on Feb. 17, the UT baseball team scored three runs in the ninth inning to grab a 5-2 victory at Western Kentucky. The victory marks Toledo’s fifth straight year with a victory to begin the season.

Tyler Grogg, photo by Zach Davis

All nine Rockets (1-0) had one hit against the Hilltoppers (0-1), but it was junior left fielder Tyler Grogg (1 for 4, 1 RBI) who drove home the game-winning run with two outs. Senior right fielder Jeff Cola (1 for 5, 2 RBI) tacked on two insurance runs in the following at bat.

Mike Hamann received his first start since an arm injury sidelined him in the midst a terrific 2011 campaign in which he had a team-best 1.96 ERA in nine starts. The junior starter gave up just one run on five hits in seven innings against WKU, striking out three.

Sophomore reliever Ryan Wilkinson (1-0) gave up the lead in the eighth but was credited with the win after the team’s ninth-inning heroics. Senior Matt Kuna locked down the Hilltoppers in a perfect ninth for the win.

Toledo’s Alex Radon will pitch against Western Kentucky in game two of the series on the road at 2 p.m. Feb. 18. The senior did not start a game last season, but racked up a 5-3 record with a 2.38 ERA in 24 appearances in 2011.

Tags: Jeff Cola, Matt Kuna, Mike Hamann, Rockets baseball, Ryan Wilkinson, Tyler Grogg, Western Kentucky, Zach Davis

This entry was posted on Saturday, February 18th, 2012 at 4:14 am and is filed under Baseball, College sports, Sports.
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