TOLEDO (Interstat) — Michael Fliss pitched six strong innings and the Toledo Rockets rallied from a six-run deficit to defeat the Kent State Golden Flashes 9-6 Saturday afternoon at Scott Park Baseball Complex.

The victory ended a two-game losing streak for the Rockets, who had dropped the first two games of the Mid-American Conference series to the visiting Golden Flashes by identical 4-3 scores Thursday and Friday.

Kent State appeared to take control immediately, scoring six runs in the top of the first inning against Fliss. The Golden Flashes sent nine batters to the plate and produced four hits in the inning, including a run-scoring single by Luke Matthews and an RBI single by Alejandro Covas. The outburst gave Kent State a 6-0 lead before the Rockets came to bat.

Toledo answered swiftly in the bottom of the first. Liam Arsich walked and Troy Sudbrook singled. After a foul out, JP Wagner’s sacrifice fly plated Arsich. Cade Baker then launched a two-run home run to left field, cutting the deficit to 6-3.

Fliss settled down after the rocky first, allowing only two earned runs over his six innings. He struck out eight and scattered eight hits, earning his third consecutive winning decision. Fliss also threw seven scoreless innings against Ohio on May 10 and six innings with one earned run against Ball State on May 3.

The Rockets chipped away in the third inning. Charlie Scholvin walked, stole second and scored on Wagner’s single to right, making it 6-4.

Toledo took the lead for good in the fourth. Luke Walton and Ryan Sudbrook singled around walks, and Arsich doubled to left-center, driving in two runs to tie the game at 6. Scholvin followed with a single to center that scored Arsich, giving Toledo a 7-6 lead.

The Rockets added an insurance run in the fifth. Baker was hit by a pitch, stole second and advanced to third on a bunt single by Jacob Payne. Ryan Sudbrook’s sacrifice fly brought home Baker to make it 8-6.

Cole Cahill extended the lead in the seventh with a solo home run to right field, his first of the game.

Kent State mounted a final threat in the eighth. Brady Marshall walked, moved to second on a groundout and scored on a wild pitch. Micah Rienstra-Kiracofe singled, and after a hit batter, Luke Matthews grounded out to bring in Rienstra-Kiracofe. Sawyer Solitaria singled to score pinch runner Kolton Schaller, cutting the margin to 9-9. But the Golden Flashes could not complete the comeback.

In the ninth, Alejandro Covas walked and stole second. Ripken Reese walked, and Rienstra-Kiracofe singled to left-center to drive in Covas, making it 9-6. But Ryan Hughes, who came on for reliever Sam Rufenacht, struck out Brady Marshall and got pinch hitter Max Humphrey to ground out to third to end the game.

Hughes earned the save with a scoreless inning, allowing one hit and striking out one.

Ripken Reese homered in the sixth for Kent State and finished 2 for 4 with two runs scored. Luke Matthews went 3 for 5 with two runs and an RBI. The Golden Flashes had 13 hits in the game but stranded nine runners.

For Toledo, Arsich had two hits and two RBIs. Baker’s homer gave him two RBIs. Cahill also homered. The Rockets finished with 11 hits.

Nick Guidas pitched 2 1/3 hitless innings of relief for Kent State, striking out one but allowing one earned run. Grant Keffaber struck out two in two-thirds of a scoreless inning. Jordan Kolenda faced one batter and did not allow a hit.

The loss dropped Kent State to 39-13 overall and snapped a four-game winning streak. Toledo improved to 29-27.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Kent State 8, Toledo 7, and its ELO system gave the Golden Flashes a 66.10 percent probability to win.