TOLEDO, Ohio (Interstat) — Jacob Payne’s two-run homer erased an early deficit and Hayden Frey delivered 5 2/3 strong innings on the mound to lead the Toledo Rockets to a 6-4 victory over the Eastern Michigan Eagles in the first game of a doubleheader on Friday.

The win evened Toledo’s season record at 15-15, while Eastern Michigan fell to 10-20.

The Eagles struck immediately against Frey. After two quick strikeouts, Devan Zirwas launched a solo home run to right-center field in the top of the first inning for an early lead.

Toledo responded with two runs in the bottom half against Eastern Michigan starter Michael Pfeiffer. Cade Baker and Charlie Scholvin led off with singles, and after a groundout, Payne drove in the first run with a groundout to second. Luke Walton followed with an RBI double to left-center, tying the game 2-2.

The Rockets seized control in the third inning. With one out and Scholvin on first via a walk, Payne connected for a two-run homer to center field, putting Toledo ahead 4-2.

Eastern Michigan chipped away, pulling within a run in the sixth. Bruce Jellison walked and later scored on an RBI double by Drew Jones, making it 4-3. That chased Frey, who was relieved by Michael Fliss. Frey (5.2 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 7 K) earned the win, building on a stellar five-inning, one-hit performance against Akron on March 28.

Toledo immediately got the run back in the bottom of the fifth when Baker led off with a solo homer against reliever Carter White, extending the lead to 5-3.

The most critical sequence of the game unfolded in the eighth inning. Eastern Michigan’s Jellison led off the top half with a solo homer off Fliss, cutting the deficit to 5-4 and bringing the potential go-ahead run to the plate. Fliss navigated the rest of the inning, aided by a double play.

In the bottom of the eighth, Toledo manufactured an insurance run without a hit. Payne singled with one out against Nick Keane, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and moved to third on a groundout. After a pitching change brought in Jack Angus, Payne scored on another wild pitch, providing a crucial two-run cushion at 6-4.

Eastern Michigan mounted a final threat in the ninth. John Hale and Liam TJ singled to put runners at the corners with one out. Nick Weaver’s sacrifice fly scored Hale to make it 6-5 and moved the tying run into scoring position, but Fliss struck out Zirwas looking to end the game and earn the save.

Payne finished 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs to lead the Toledo offense. Baker was 2-for-4 with a homer, two runs scored and an RBI. For Eastern Michigan, Hale had three of the team’s nine hits, while Jellison and Zirwas each homered.

The loss went to Pfeiffer (4.0 IP, 0 H, 4 ER, 5 K), who struggled with command, walking six batters. Eastern Michigan relievers White, Keane and Angus combined for 4 2/3 innings of hitless relief, but the early damage proved too much to overcome.

The teams were set to conclude the doubleheader later Friday.