Dayton Flyers

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – University of Dayton baseball lost the first game of the Riverview Inn Challenge to Arkansas State, 9-3, on Friday evening at Raymond C. Hand Park.

It is the first loss of the season for the Flyers (2-9) decided by more than three runs. Arkansas State (8-6) snapped a two-game losing streak.

Junior outfielder Ian Hundley led the Flyers offensively on Friday, going 4-for-4 with an RBI. Hundley’s four hits are a career high. Senior Bobby Glover waited until the bottom of the eighth inning to extend his hitting streak to 11 games – a hit in every game this season.

Starting pitcher Burny Mitchem (1-2) received the loss on the mound after throwing three innings, two strikeouts while allowing three hits and one earned run. Junior Parker Schrage pitched the majority of the game for the Flyers – 5 1/3 innings with four strikeouts and four earned runs.

A-State’s Jacob Lee (2-0) received the win after throwing six innings with five strikeouts, allowing one earned run. Four Red Wolves recorded multi-hit games, led by Logan Uxa’s 2-for-4 outing with two runs scored and one RBI.  

The Flyers recorded a season-high five errors as four of Arkansas State’s nine runs were unearned.

Mitchem struck out two in the first inning but also gave up two runs as Arkansas State tested the Flyer defense on the base path. With two outs, Uxa singled to right field to trigger a two-run play – first, driving in Zach George from first base and later himself scoring on a throwing error by Mitchem.

Sophomore Mel Skochdopole ripped a first-pitch single in the second inning and eventually scored the first run of the day for UD. In the next at-bat, Zach Stewart singled through the right side, advancing Skochdopole to third. Stewart then successfully stole second and a throwing error by the catcher allowed Skochdopole to advance home.

Schrage replaced Mitchem on the mound to begin the fourth inning.

Junior Jared Broughton hit a double deep to left-center field with one out in the bottom of the fourth inning, followed by Josh Jeffery drawing a base on balls off a full count. Hundley then added to his career day by driving in Broughton on a single down the left field line, putting UD within one run 3-2.

Of the Flyers’ five errors on Friday, four were committed with two outs in the sixth inning as Arkansas State tacked on three unearned runs to take a 7-3 lead.

Freshman A.J. Ryan drove in his eighth run of the season in the seventh inning – the first given up by ASU reliever Seth McWilliams this season the season. Ryan drove in C.J. Gillman, who reached on a single up the middle. It was Dayton’s last run of the game.

Associate Head Coach Todd Linklater served as the Flyers’ head coach on Friday and will continue to for the remainder of the weekend. Head Coach Tony Vittorio did not travel with the team due to a family emergency.

Dayton returns to action in the Riverview Inn Challenge tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. ET against host Austin Peay.