Rockets Fail To Overcome Rough Pitching In Close Loss At Fifth Third Field

Photo Credit: Payton Schmitz

Written by: Trevor Carnicom 

Date: April 14th, 2026 

In what has become a yearly tradition for the Rockets baseball team, they packed up and headed downtown to Fifth Third Field, the home of the Toledo Mud Hens. The Rockets defended their home city against the Michigan Wolverines.  

These two teams already met once before this season, with the Wolverines taking a 5-2 contest up in Ann Arbor. Toledo came into the game 2-5 playing at Fifth Third Field. 

The Wolverines threatened to score with two runners on base in the top of the first, but Toledo left-handed starter Deron Swanson locked in and got out of the inning without any damage.  

The Rockets came out in the bottom of the first against Michigan right-handed starter Erik Puodziunas and got the bats going early, scoring two on a no-out double from captain and third baseman Troy Sudbrook. The Rockets would load the bases later in the inning thanks to two hit batters, but a groundout from the younger Sudbrook brother Ryan would end the Rocket threat at just two runs. Toledo 2, Michigan 0. 

The Wolverines would get a runner to third with no outs in the top of the second off Rockets lefty reliever Arturo Ormaza thanks to 2 wild pitches in the same at-bat, but Troy Sudbrook did what a captain does: make plays. Three groundouts to Sudbrook later, and the Wolverines were done without a run scored.  

Drew Tajblik led off the bottom of the second for his first collegiate at-bat, though that special first hit would have to wait as he struck out. Two batters and two outs later, the Rockets would walk back to the dugout without a baserunner. 

The Wolverines would get a run back in the top of the third thanks to an Evan Haeger single and would threaten for more, but a deep fly ball found the glove of center fielder Liam Arsich, ending the inning with multiple runners on base. Toledo 2, Michigan 1.

The bottom of the third would unfortunately go quick again for the Rockets. Despite a 2-out walk from designated hitter Jacob Payne, 3 strikeouts would set the hitters down.

The Wolverines would strike again in the top of the fourth, stealing the momentum as they scored two runs off new Rockets right-handed pitcher Braden Curry via a Noah Miller single and a wild pitch. Curry struggles through a long inning, giving up two runs and three walks while throwing over 30 pitches. Michigan 3, Toledo 2. 

A walk from Wagner to start the bottom of the fourth yet again resulted in nothing for the Rockets, with Puodziunas and new righty reliever Gavin DeVooght setting the next three Rocket hitters down via a pop-up and two strikeouts. Rocket hitters have struck out FIVE times in the last two innings. 

Curry continued struggling with his command in the top of the fifth, walking three batters yet again. This time, his defense came up clutch for him with a fly ball finding the glove of Tajblik for the third out, preventing Wolverine runs from scoring for the third straight inning. 

Yet another inning ended quickly for the Rockets in the bottom of the fifth. Despite a 1-out single from Troy Sudbrook, a double play one batter later off the bat of the other Rocket captain Charlie Scholvin sent the Rockets back to their dugout without a run for the fourth straight inning. 

Sudbrook followed up his offense with some poor defense in the top of the sixth with two throwing errors costing the Rockets and new right-handed pitcher Ryan Hughes key outs. He would at least partially make up for it, flinging a strong throw to first to get the next runner out on his sacrifice bunt. Another Wolverine run scored on a groundout to first base, then another on a wild pitch as they started to pull away from the Rockets. Michigan 5, Toledo 2. 

The Rockets once again tried to light a fire under their bats with a one-out hit-by-pitch on catcher Carson McCaleb and a bloop single from Wagner in the bottom of the sixth. A run finally scored thanks to a pinch-hit walk for Preston Zumwalt and another for Cade Baker, sending DeVooght to the dugout. The Wolverines went to righty Brandon Mann to keep the score right where it was, and he succeeded, getting a well-hit fly ball from Arsich to land in a glove on the warning track. Michigan 5, Toledo 3. 

The Wolverines threatened yet again with runners on second and third with only one out in the top of the seventh, yet new lefty pitcher Cole Giesige would clutch up, getting those last two outs to keep Michigan off the board.  

A 1-out triple by Scholvin and a hit by pitch for Payne spelled the end of Mann’s outing in the bottom of the seventh, bringing in righty Cade Montgomery from the Wolverines’ bullpen. The Rockets executed beautiful small-ball baseball, sending Payne off to second in what seemed like an ill-advised steal attempt, only for Scholvin to barrel home after the Michigan catcher threw away, bringing the Rockets back within one. A fast-flying line drive shot off the bat of Wagner, only to find the Michigan left fielder’s glove on an impressive jumping catch at the wall. Toledo is fighting back under the downtown lights. Michigan 5, Toledo 4. 

The Wolverines got that run right back on a line drive shot just off the left field wall from third baseman Brayden Jeffris, his fifth time on base in this game. A big insurance run for the Wolverines in the top of the eighth. Three Michigan walks chased Giesige and brought out right-hander John Hojnowski, who clutched up and struck out Colby Turner to strand the bases loaded. Huge pitching from Hojnowski. Michigan 6, Toledo 4. 

Montgomery shut down the Rockets in the bottom of the eighth, sending them down 1-2-3 with 2 strikeouts and a groundout to third. Time is running out for the Rockets. 

Hojnowski pitched as good as a pitcher could in the top of the ninth inning, striking out the side to keep the score right where it is. Toledo has 2-3-4 up in the bottom of the ninth, down 2. Can they make magic? 

The Rockets went 1-2-3 again in the bottom of the ninth on an Arsich groundout, a Troy Sudbrook strikeout, and a Scholvin lineout. Final score: Michigan 6, Toledo 4. 

The Rockets came out strong, getting out of a multiple-runner jam in the first before scoring two runs of their own without even an out in their half. However, the bats dried up for too long, and the Wolverines chipped away, eventually taking a lead they wouldn’t lose. Too many walks by Rockets pitchers, combined with untimely hitting, contributed to the loss.  

6 Rocket pitchers pitched in the game, with the loss going to Braden Curry (2.0 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 6 BB, 1 WP). The Rockets will look to regroup and refocus before heading back to Scott Park for a pivotal weekend series against the Miami (OH) Redhawks.