AVON, Ohio — No. 3 Toledo (32-28) defeated No. 2 Kent State (42-15), 5–2, in a win-or-go home game at ForeFront Field on Saturday afternoon. The Rockets secured the victory with nine hits and three stolen bases, while the pitching staff held Kent State to seven hits and struck out seven batters. Toledo's offense was highlighted by a home run and two doubles.
With the win, the Rockets advance to take on No. 4 Northern Illinois in tonight's MAC Baseball Championship at 6PM ET on ESPN+.
Troy Sudbrook made an impact with his performance, hitting a home run and scoring two runs. JP Wagner also stood out by collecting three hits, including two doubles, and driving in one run. Additionally, Jacob Payne demonstrated his speed and base-running skills, successfully stealing two bases while also contributing with two hits.
On the mound, Toledo starter Nate Langbehn tossed seven innings, allowing two hits and two walks while striking out six. Ryan Hughes slammed the door in the final two innings, allowing just one baserunner.
Kent State's standout players include Ripken Reese, who showcased power with a home run and contributed one RBI. Micah Rienstra-Kirac excelled at the plate, recording three hits and drawing a walk. On the mound, Gavin Jones pitched 6.2 innings, striking out four batters, though he allowed five earned runs. Brody Krzysiak delivered a clean performance in relief, pitching 1.1 innings without conceding any hits or runs. These athletes were pivotal in their respective roles during the game.
Postgame Quotes
Toledo head coach Rob Reinstetle
“Heroic. It was awesome. I mean, what he did — what can you say? He’s a reliever, and he’s never gone that long in his life. He held down a really good offense, a really good team, and just gave us a chance to win that game.
"He (Ryan Hughes) was awesome. He was that way against them the other night when we beat them — I guess it was Wednesday night or Thursday night. My days are getting all mixed up. But I’m just happy we held on and get to go play for a championship again.
"It sets the tone for the entire day. It lets them know we’re here to play and that they’re going to have a tough day if they want to beat us. It was huge to score early, and then we kept tacking on runs as the day went on. That’s a really good baseball team. I have a lot of respect for Jeff Duncan and Kent State. To beat them and advance to the championship is special.”
