March 30, 2008

Box Score

DAYTON, Ohio - With quiet bats throughout the game, a win for the Flyers on Sunday looked as bleak as the weather that was barreling down on UD Softball Stadium. With one swing of the bat, however, that fate changed dramatically.

Megan Lee, hitting .214 entering the contest hit a two-run blast over left centerfield to rally the University of Dayton Flyers over the Saint Joseph's Hawks, 2-1.

"I wanted to get the ball on the ground up the middle," said Lee. "When I hit and it just felt awesome coming off of the bat...It was amazing [to end the game with a home run.]"

The Flyers trailed Saint Joseph's throughout the entire game after the Hawks put up an early run in the first inning.

"We talked a lot about playing every pitch and every out and they definitely showed that when they do that, good things can happen," said coach Cara Clark. "I'm really proud of the way they came up with some good at-bats and kept fighting."

With their backs pinned against the wall and one already out, the first baseman Anne Maci stepped in and ripped a base hit to left field for the Flyers putting the game winning run at home plate.

Laura Matthews grounded out pushing the Flyers to the brink. With two outs and the winning run at the plate, Lee, a Centerville, Ohio native crushed the ball over the left field wall sneaking in between the scoreboard and fence for the walk off homer.

Dayton allowed four hits in the contest in the contest with Eva Rappe collecting her eighth win of the season. Rappe struck out four in the contest and walked one.

"You have to give Eva and Erin credit for pitching complete games and doing well by putting us in position to win," said Clark.

In their first game of the day the Flyers were blanked by the Hawks 3-0 in a pitching duel. Erin Lafayette struck out four on the day allowing five hits. Saint Joseph's pitcher Dani Gonzales struck out 11 in their win.

"You have to give a lot of credit to Saint Joe's, they are a very classy program," said Clark. "They came out here and played a great game and I want to give a lot of credit to their pitchers because they kept our hitters off-balance for most of the game."

The Flyers are back in action again on Wednesday as they travel to Ohio to play the Bobcats. Opening pitch in the doubleheader against Ohio is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday. For more on the Flyers visit www.DaytonFlyers.com.