May 4, 2008

Box Score

AMHERST, MA - Visiting Dayton saw a three-run lead after six innings turn into a 5-4 loss in 15 innings to Massachusetts in the deciding game of an Atlantic 10 baseball series on Sunday afternoon.

The Flyers (27-20, 10-11 A-10) lost for the first time this season when taking a lead into the ninth inning despite an effort from a pitching staff that tallied 12 strikeouts while surrendering only two walks.

Dayton held a 3-0 lead after six innings, but could not withstand two runs in the seventh and a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning that forced extra innings.

UD and UMass each scratched across one run in the 12th inning before a double and a single back-to-back from the Minutemen sent the Flyers home with a one-run loss.

Sophomore Chris Beesley suffered the loss for Dayton after surrendering two runs on three hits in 5.1 innings of relief. He struck out two batters and did not surrender a walk while falling to 2-4 on the season.

Senior Alex Dye started the day on the mound for UD and gave up two runs on three hits while striking out four batters in 6.1 innings pitched.

Freshman Burny Mitchem allowed just one run in 2.2 innings out of the bullpen to close out regulation for the Flyers. He struck out six batters and did not allow a walk while scattering five hits on the day.

Ryan Nevill led a Dayton offense that matched Massachusetts with 12 hits each. Nevill finished 4-for-7 with two doubles and a run scored.

Cole Tyrell also singled twice to increase his hitting streak to 13 consecutive games while Marshall MacDonald and Myles Swartzel added two hits of their own with MacDonald also driving in a run.

Max Navlinski scored twice and Kevin Miller drove in two runs while plating another for a Dayton squad that fell to 3-4 in one-run games this season and 2-2 in extra-inning contests.

UD started the game on a positive note with a run in the second inning. Myles Swartzel ledoff with a single and Max Navalinski traded places with him at first following a fielder's choice. Ryan Nevill followed with a double down the left field line that pushed Navalinski to third before Jacob Spaeth was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Kevin Miller was also hit by the first pitch of his at bat to drive in a run and give Dayton a 1-0 lead.

Max Navalinski got things going again for the Flyers with a leadoff walk in the fourth inning. Ryan Nevill then singled to centerfield and Jacob Spaeth moved the pair into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Kevin Miller lifted a sacrifice fly to left field that allowed Navalinski to score again for a 2-0 advantage.

Dayton added one more run in the sixth inning beginning with a leadoff double by Ryan Nevill. Jacob Spaeth moved him up to third on a single to right field and after a change of both members in the UMass battery, Kevin Miller hit into a double play that allowed Nevill to come home from third for a 3-0 Flyer lead.

UMass finally got on the board in the seventh on a one-out RBI single and a bases-loaded hit by pitch to close the gap to 3-2. Then after a leadoff single by the Minutemen in the bottom of the ninth, UD retired the next two batters on a sacrifice bunt and a strikeout to bring up Brian Baudinet who looped a game-tying single into centerfield to send the game into extra innings knotted a 3-3.

Dayton put the pressure on Massachusetts in the 12th with a leadoff single by Kevin Miller. After a strikeout, Cole Tyrell reached base safely on an error by the third baseman that also gave Miller a chance to advance to second. Marshall MacDonald followed with an RBI single to left field, but the next two batters were retired in order to give UD a one-run lead at 4-3.

UMass continued the game with another two-out RBI in the bottom of the frame and then ended the contest in the 15th inning with a one-out RBI single to right for a 5-4 decision.

Dayton will take part in a pair of non-conference games against MAC opponents next week. The Flyers will travel to Toledo for a 3 p.m. ET game on Tuesday before returning home to play host to Ohio on Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET. Both games can be followed with Gametracker at www.DaytonFlyers.com.