The Toledo Black Hawks opened their home schedule of the Tri State Collegiate League at Bowman Park this past weekend taking 3 of 4 from the visitors.

Saturday, in the first game, the Canton Terriers were in town and the held the Black Hawk bats in check as the home team was only able to register 3 hits in the 5-2 loss in the first game. Nick Rodesky (Bluffton / Bowling Green) only allowed 2 earned runs in 5 innings of work but the Black Hawks just could not get the offense going. 

 That was not the case in the second game as the bats came alive for 12 hits and also received 5 walks that led to 10 runs. Jake Rightnowar (Trine / Toledo) started on the hill and after a rough first inning settled down and held the Canton team in check to allow the offense to come back. The Black Hawks were led by 6 different players that collected 2 hits apiece. The big blow of the game was a 2 out bases clearing double by Matt Vannett ( BGSU / Bowling Green) in the fifth inning which led to the Black Hawks taking an 8-6 lead into the 6th. Jeff Davis (OwensCC/ Toledo) came in for relief and allowed 1 hit and no runs for the save. The final score for game 2 on Saturday was 10-6 as the Black Hawks tacked on 2 insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth.

On Sunday the Black Hawks faced off against the Ohio Glaciers from Youngstown Ohio. The Glaciers took a 1-0 lead after the visitors half of the 1st inning on a single, sac bunt and another single but the lead was short-lived as the Hawks struck for 2 runs in the bottom of the first. The key innings were the bottom of the fourth when the Back Hawks struck for 5 runs on only 2 hits with two out in the inning. The home team was helped 2 walks, 2 errors and 1 HBP in the inning, and then in the top of the fifth the Glaciers loaded the bases with no outs with Nate White (Defiance / Port Clinton) on the hill. Nate struck out 2 of the Glaciers sandwiched around a pop up to short to escape the inning without giving up a run.  The Hawks were led offensively by Sam Fischer (Adrian / Monclova, Oh) 2 for 3 with 2 RBI’s and 2 runs scored and by Tayler Glass (Glen Oaks CC/ Petersburg Mi) with a double and 2 RBI. Cory Cannon (Kalamazoo / Blissfield) was the starter and winner with a save to John Fortunato (Case Western / Toledo). The final of game one was 7-5 Black Hawks.

In the second game the Black Hawks took a 1-0 lead on a bomb by Matt Vannett only to fall behind 2 to 1 after 4 innings. The Hawks tied the game at 2 apiece in the bottom of the fifth and the score remained tied until the bottom of the seventh when the first two hitters from the Hawks were walked. Sam Fischer then singled home the winning run through the left side of the infield. The Hawks were led on the mound by Stephen Leskow (Defiance/ Defiance, Oh) with a two hitter and 1 earned run allowed. Tyler Glass (Glen OaksCC / Petersburg Mi) came on to get the final out and picked up the win. The 3-2 victory moves the Black Hawks to 6-3 on the year and the team will be back in action Tuesday night at Bowman.