Toledo closed out its non-conference schedule on May 15 with a 10-1 loss on the road at Ohio State.

The Rockets (27-24, 16-8 Mid-American Conference) can now focus on the critical three-game series they host this weekend against Eastern Michigan (24-25, 15-9 MAC), which is two games back of UT for first place in the MAC West Division regular season championship. Toledo is also trying to hold off Central Michigan (28-25, 15-9), which is one game back of UT and has won 10 of its last 11 and eight straight league games. The Chippewas have a three-game series this weekend against Western Michigan (23-25, 13-10).

Against the Buckeyes (30-22), Toledo took an early lead before OSU scored 10 straight runs to grab the victory.

UT senior first baseman Mark Lapikas, courtesy of UT Athletic Department

On the mound, junior starter Jared Locke (3-7, 5.03 ERA) struggled to hold down Ohio State allowing three runs on five hits in five innings of work. Locke has lost his last three outings giving up 10 runs (eight earned) in 15.1 innings.

Freshman Alec Schmenk followed Locke and gave up four runs (one earned) on two hits and three walks in 0.2 innings. Classmate Andrew Marra relieved Schmenk with one run in 1.1 innings before sophomore Trever Gast gave up two unearned runs in the ninth.

At the plate, senior first baseman Mark Lapikas (1 for 1, HR, 2 BB) scored the lone run of the game with his team-leading seventh home run of the season. He also walked in his other two at bats against the Buckeyes.

Senior second baseman Joe Corfman, who went 2 for 4 at the plate, was the lone Rocket to record a multihit effort. With his double in the first inning, Corfman became UT’s all-time hit leader (256).

The Rockets’ crucial weekend series against EMU begins at 3 p.m. May 17 at Scott Park. Sophomore Ryan Wilkinson will get the start, holding a 7-3 record with a 2.74 ERA on the season.

Tags: Alec Schmenk, Andrew Marra, Jared Locke, Joe Corfman, Mark Lapikas, Ohio State, Rockets baseball, Trevor Gast, Zach Davis

This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 16th, 2012 at 7:05 am and is filed under Baseball, College sports, Sports.
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Despite racking up 15 hits, Toledo fell in a non-league game to Kent State 8-4 on April 4 at Scott Park. The loss is the fourth straight for the Rockets as they fall to 12-16 on the season and maintain a 3-3 Mid-American Conference record.

“We had some really good at bats, we just couldn’t get that clutch hit when we needed it,” UT head coach Cory Mee said. “I think that was the story of the game. We gave them too many opportunities. They are a very good team, we made some mistakes and we weren’t able to come back from it.

“Right now we are a really inconsistent team. If we can iron that out, I think we still have a chance to do pretty well.”

Sophomore pitcher Cameron Palmer, taken by Zach Davis

Although Toledo’s 15 hits were the second-most of the season, UT left 13 runners stranded on base against the Golden Flashes (15-13). Senior first baseman Matt Delewski (3 for 5, R), freshman third baseman Anthony Smith (3 for 5, RBI) and junior designated hitter Wes White (3 for 4) each tallied three hits for the Rockets. Sophomore catcher James Miglin (2 for 4, R, RBI) crossed the plate once and drove in a run.

“Matt and Anthony have swung the bat for us really well lately,” Mee said. “They are executing our plan. Right now what we need to do collectively as a team is get everyone on the same page and put up good at bat after good at bat. That’s been the Achilles heel for us offensively is the inconsistency.”

Sophomore pitcher Cameron Palmer (1-1, 6.75 ERA) was tagged with his first loss on his first start of the season after giving up four runs (two earned) on six hits in 4.1 innings.

“We need to get better performances out of our starting pitching,” Mee said. “We just need to get more innings out of our starters. We are having to go to our bullpen too soon and we are taxing them right now. I think that if we can do that and get a lot more innings out of our starters, the guys that we are bringing out of the bullpen that have done real well for us over the year will be even more successful.”

Sophomore Trevor Gast struggled in relief of Palmer, getting lit up for four runs in 1.2 innings. Senior Lincoln Rassi and junior Cody Umbright combined to throw the last three scoreless innings.

Toledo will need to try to avoid its losing streak moving to five games when it takes on Central Michigan in a three-game series on the weekend in Mount Pleasant. The opening game will take place at 3 p.m. April 6.

Tags: Anthony Smith, Cameron Palmer, Cody Umbright, Cory Mee, James Miglin, Kent State, Lincoln Rassi, Matt Delewski, Rockets baseball, Trevor Gast, Wes White, Zach Davis

This entry was posted on Thursday, April 5th, 2012 at 10:14 am and is filed under Baseball, College sports, Sports.
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In their first game of Mid-American Conference play, Toledo starter Mike Hamann was rocked as Ohio grabbed a 9-3 victory at Scott Park.

With the loss, the Rockets are now 8-12 on the season while Ohio ran its record to 10-10.

Joe Corfman, photo by Zach Davis

Hamann (0-4, 6.17 ERA) allowed six runs on eight hits in three innings of work to pick up the loss. He has struggled so far in 2012, allowing more than four runs in four of his six starts. Last season, the Rockets ace didn’t give up more than three runs in any of his nine starts, recording a 1.96 ERA in 59.2 innings before missing the remainder of the season with an arm injury.

Senior second baseman Joe Corfman had a team-high three hits in four at bats with an RBI, raising his batting average to a team-best .317 on the season. Junior left fielder Tyler Grogg (2 for 4, RBI) and senior designated hitter Matt Delewski (1 for 4, RBI) also drove in runs for UT.

The Rockets did have an early advantage, going ahead 3-0 in the second after six straight hits. Hamann, however, gave up six in the third to relinquish the lead. Senior Tyler Scott threw three innings of relief allowing one run before giving way to freshman Alec Schmenk who gave up two unearned runs in 1.2 innings. Sophomore Trevor Gast and senior Alex Radon combined to pitch the final 1.1 innings of scoreless relief.

Toledo will look to take game two of a three-game series against the Bobcats at 1 p.m. March 24.

Tags: Alec Schmenk, Alex Radon, Joe Corfman, Matt Delewski, Mid-American Conference, Mike Hamann, Ohio University, Rockets baseball, Trevor Gast, Tyler Grogg, Tyler Scott, Zach Davis

This entry was posted on Saturday, March 24th, 2012 at 10:07 am and is filed under Baseball, College sports, Sports.
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As part of the Chanticleer Classic, the Rockets lost 13-1 in Myrtle Beach, S.C., to Ohio State on March 10. Toledo has now lost six of its seven-game road swing in South Carolina with one game still remaining.

Tyler Grogg

The Rockets (4-9) offense recorded just one run on seven hits against OSU (8-4). Freshman third baseman Anthony Smith had a pair of hits in his two at bats while junior left fielder Tyler Grogg drove home the lone run in the seventh inning.

Senior starter Alex Radon (0-2, 8.78 ERA) is still in search of his first win after giving up three runs on six hits in three innings of work.

Freshman Alec Schmenk (2 IP, 2 H, 2 ER) and sophomores Trevor Gast (0.1 IP, 1 R) and Cameron Palmer (0.2 IP, 3 H, 4 ER) combined to give up nine runs (seven earned) in the next three innings as UT fell behind 12-0 after six frames.

Following Grogg’s RBI, freshman Andrew Marra threw the final two innings and allowed one run while striking out three as the Buckeyes grabbed a 13-1 victory.

Toledo wraps up the Chanticleer Classic and its final game in South Carolina when it takes on Marist (3-4) at noon March 11. After beginning the season with an 18-game road streak, UT has five more games before its home opener on March 21.

Tags: Alec Schmenk, Alex Radon, Andrew Marra, Anthony Smith, Cameron Palmer, Ohio State, Rockets baseball, Trevor Gast, Tyler Grogg, Zach Davis

This entry was posted on Sunday, March 11th, 2012 at 9:52 am and is filed under Baseball, College sports, Sports.
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With inclement weather on the way the following day, Toledo’s matchup with Western Kentucky turned into a doubleheader on Feb. 18. With each team winning one game, the Rockets took two of three overall on the weekend to take the series.

Mark Lapikas, photo by Zach Davis

In the opening game on the day, Toledo withheld a late charge by the Hilltoppers to grab a 7-6 victory. Western Kentucky scored four runs in the final three innings, including two in the ninth, but with two on and two outs UT closer Matt Kuna got the strike out to seal the win.

The Rockets had 17 hits against WKU including three from senior first baseman Mark Lapikas (3 of 5, 1 R, 2 RBI). Junior center fielder Ben Hammer (2 of 3, 3 R, 1 RBI) scored three times and second baseman Joe Corfman (2 of 5, 2 R) crossed the plate twice. Sophomore catcher James Miglin (2 of 5, 2 RBI) also drove in two.

UT starter Alex Radon, who appeared in 24 relief appearances last season, gave up two runs on five hits in four innings. The senior’s day was cut short walking six batters. Instead it was senior Tyler Scott (1-0) who picked up his first win of the season, allowing one run in 2.1 innings.

Sophomore southpaw Ryan Wilkinson (0.2 IP, 2 H, 1 ER) and junior Cody Umbright (1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER) also threw in relief before Kuna, who allowed three hits and two runs in the ninth, came in to collect his second save of the season.

In the second game of the doubleheader, Western Kentucky (1-2) avoided the sweep in a 9-3 victory over the Rockets (2-1).

UT starter Jared Locke (0-1) was awarded the loss in his first start, giving up four runs and seven hits in five innings. The junior struck out five but also walked three.

Sophomore Cameron Palmer appeared in relief and gave up three runs (two earned) in the next two innings. Sophomore Trevor Gast allowed one run, pitching one out into the ninth before giving way to freshman Alec Schmenk who finished the game, allowing one unearned run.

Corfman was the lone Rocket to record a multihit performance, going 2 for 5 with one run. Hammer, Lapikas and senior catcher A.J. Demarco each drove home a run for UT.

Toledo has a week to prepare for its next series when it travels to North Carolina to take on Charlotte (3-0) from Feb. 24-26.

Tags: A.J. Demarco, Alec Schmenk, Alex Radon, Ben Hammer, Cameron Palmer, Cody Umbright, doubleheader, James Miglin, Jared Locke, Joe Corfman, Mark Lapikas, Matt Kuna, Rockets baseball, Ryan Wilkinson, Trevor Gast, Tyler Scott, Western Kentucky, Zach Davis

This entry was posted on Sunday, February 19th, 2012 at 11:46 am and is filed under Baseball, College sports, Sports.
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