March 29, 2008

Box Score

DAYTON, Ohio - Kevin Miller drew a bases-loaded walk with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift Dayton past Rhode Island, 2-1 in opener of an Atlantic 10 baseball doubleheader Saturday afternoon. The victory marked the second time this season that the Flyers tallied the winning run in the ninth inning.

UD (14-8, 2-3 A-10) was out hit 5-3 in a game that featured outstanding pitching on both sides. Senior Alex Dye became the second straight Flyer starter to earn a no decision after allowing just three hits and two walks while striking out five in 6.1 scoreless innings pitched.

Despite giving up an unearned run that tied the game in the top of the ninth inning, freshman Burny Mitchem improved to 2-1 after recording three strikeouts in 2.2 innings pitched. He gave up two hits and just one walk and worked his way out of a bases loaded jam with a double play in the seventh inning.

Miller keyed the double play with his second outfield assist of the season as he caught a fly ball in centerfield and fired home to throw out a URI runner attempting to score from third base. He also walked twice including the key bases on balls in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Marshall MacDonald drove in the first run of the game on a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning and scored the game-winning run in the ninth for the Flyers.

Max Navalinski singled and scored a run in the sixth inning while Ryan Nevill had a single of his own as Dayton won for just the second time this season when being out hit by its opponent.

After a groundout to begin the sixth inning, Max Navalinski lifted a single to right field. Then on a ground ball to second base, Navalinski went all the way to third base on an errant throw into left field. Marshall MacDonald took advantage of the opportunity with a sacrifice fly to left field for a 1-0 Dayton lead.

Rhode Island used a UD fielding error to score an unearned run on a sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth inning and extend the game with the score knotted 1-1.

Marshall MacDonald began the bottom the ninth inning by hitting a hard ground ball to third base. The throw from the Rams' fielder sailed high of the first baseman and out of play to put MacDonald onto second base via an error. After a strike out and a ground out, Scott Dunwoody was hit by a pitch and Jimmy Roesinger worked a seven-pitch walk to bring Kevin Miller to the plate. Miller remained alive after falling behind 1-2 in the at bat to force a full count and finally walk on a pitch low and inside to give Dayton its second conference victory of the season, 2-1.