Dayton Flyers

DAYTON, Ohio – Dayton lost to No. 30 Saint Louis, 12-5, on Sunday afternoon at Time Warner Cable Stadium.

Saint Louis (21-7, 5-1 A-10) takes the series after winning two-of-three against the Flyers this weekend. Dayton (11-17, 3-3 A-10) loses just its second A-10 regular season series in as many seasons.

The Flyers took a 3-2 lead in the fifth inning on a solo homerun from senior catcher Josh Jeffery – his first of the season. SLU answered with seven runs in the sixth and ended the game on a 10-2 run.

Senior Brian Blasik went 2-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored. Blasik is on a nine-game hitting streak and has a .476 average with 10 hits and four doubles in conference games. Junior Joe Gayda pinch-hit in the DH spot in the sixth inning and finished with two hits and one RBI.  Centerfielder Bobby Glover drew a walk in the fourth inning to extend his reached base streak to a season-long 28 games.

Senior right-handed starting pitcher Burny Mitchem (2-4) started the game for the Flyers and allowed one earned run through the first five innings. Mitchem totaled 5 1/3 innings with two strikeouts and three walks. Four of Mitchem’s five earned runs allowed came during SLU’s seven-run sixth inning.

The Billikens’ left-handed starting pitcher Damian Rivera (3-2) struck out five Flyers in 5 1/3 innings and received the win. Travis Parker pitched 2 2/3 shutout innings of effective relief to hold the Flyers at bay late in the game. Second baseman Mike Levine went 2-for-5 with four RBI. Designated hitter Marco DiRoma had a game-high four hits.

Sunday ended a 14-game homestand for the Flyers. UD’s upcoming mid-week schedule includes trips to IPFW on Tuesday and No. 2 Kentucky on Wednesday.