Baseball Defeats Toledo, 3-1, in MAC Opener for Fourth Straight Win
3/25/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
TOLEDO, Ohio The quest for the Mid-American Conference (MAC) championship got off to a solid start for the Kent State University baseball team with a 3-1victory over the University of Toledo in the MAC opener Friday (Mar. 25) at Scott Park.
Senior RHP Jason Brunke (Carrol Stream, Ill./Glenbard North/DuPage) won his second straight decision as the Golden Flashes (12-7, 1-0 MAC) won their fourth straight overall.
Kent State first got on the scoreboard in the third inning on a two-run single by sophomore 3B Andrew Davis (Chillichothe, Ohio/Zanes Trace) that brought home Eric Holick (Westlake, Ohio/Westlake) and Manny Burriss (Washington, D.C./Wilson).
Drew Saylor (Wadsworth, Ohio/Wadsworth/Cincinnati) singled up the middle to bring home junior Joe Tucker (Canton, Ohio/Canton Central Catholic) in the sixth inning for a 3-0 lead.
Toledo (5-12, 0-1 MAC) answered in the bottom of the sixth with a sacrifice fly from Jason Watson for their only run on the day.
Brunke worked the first 6.2 innings, scattering six hits. He allowed just one earned run while walking two and striking out three before giving way to junior reliever Chad Wagler (Hartville, Ohio/Lake).
Wagler worked out of a jam in the seventh and then followed with two innings of shutout relief for his first save of the year. He allowed just one hit and struck out three.
Saylor, Holick and senior 1B Andy Hargrove (Richfield, Ohio/St. Ignatius/Oral Roberts) each had two hits to lead Kent State. Saylors single in the first inning extended his team-leading hitting streak to 11 games.
Nick Szcur (2-2) went eight innings for Toledo, allowing three runs- two earned- on six hits. He walked four and struck out four. Jake Swint and Dan Stong each had two hits for the Rockets.
The two teams resume their three-game series on Saturday afternoon, Mar. 26. First pitch at Scott Park is set for 1 p.m.
GAME NOTES: Saylor, the MACs leading hitter, is batting .489 (22-for-45) during his streakâ?¦ Wagler is 3-0 with one save in his last five appearances, spanning 20 innings (0.90 ERA)â?¦ Kent State has won 10 of the last 12 meetings with the Rockets.
