RICHMOND, Ky. – Keith Rawlings pitched seven innings, allowing only one hit to lead Toledo to a 5-3 victory over the Eastern Kentucky baseball team Saturday at Turkey Hughes Field.

Trailing 5-0 heading to the ninth the Colonel offense staged a late rally, using an RBI double from sophomore Clint Seymour and a two-run single from junior Tony Wells to cut the lead to 5-3 with one out. But Rocket closer Steve Wenning came in to shut the door, striking out freshman Matt Davis and senior Keith Bolger to give Toledo its second straight victory to open the season.

The game began as a pitcher's duel, with senior Scott Goetz and Rawlings matching zeros through the first three innings. Goetz gave way to sophomore Alex Napier to begin the fourth and the game remained scoreless heading to the seventh. But Toledo (2-0) third baseman Scott Boley homered to dead center to begin the seventh against Eastern (0-2) junior Michael Mulholland who had relieved Napier with one out in the sixth.

Senior Brett Bolger got the first EKU hit of the day with a single to center to begin the seventh and then stole second with one out. But Rawlings got junior Charlie Yarbrough to groundout to short and then retired Seymour on a deep foul fly to right to end the threat.

Toledo picked up an unearned run in the eighth as Jason Watson led off the inning with a walk and then advanced to third on a Mulholland throwing error before coming around on a Ryan Laude sacrifice fly.

The Rockets padded their lead to five in the ninth on a Watson sacrifice fly and a two-run double from Jake Swint.

The teams will conclude the three-game series tomorrow at Turkey Hughes Field. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.