May 16, 2006

TOLEDO, Ohio - Dayton used a four-run ninth inning rally to secure its fourth 30-win season in the last seven years with an 8-6 victory over Toledo on Tuesday.

The Flyers improved to 14-13 in non-conference games this season after winning their fourth game of the year after trailing entering the ninth inning. All four runs scored by UD in the ninth came without a hit as UT made three errors and the Flyers smacked a pair of sacrifice flies for the win.

Frank Tedesco finished 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles, a walk, run scored and three RBI to lead the UD offense.

The Flyers were out hit 10-7 by the Rockets despite a 2-for-4 day with a walk and a run scored.

Michael Massa walked twice and scored two runs while stealing a pair of bases. He now has 19 stolen bases this season which is the fourth most in UD single-season history and matches his total from all of last year.

Freshman Sean Finn made his second career start for Dayton and allowed two earned runs on five hits over 5.2 innings pitched. He struck out three and walked just one before giving way to Cale Ort. Ort pitched 1.1 scoreless innings and gave up just two hits to get UD through the sixth inning.

Fellow lefthander Quinn Haselhorst came out of the bullpen to start the seventh inning and earned the win after recording two strikeouts in 2.0 innings pitched. Haselhorst gave up a three runs on a pair of homers but improved to 3-3 on the season.

Senior Craig Rohren collected his ninth save of the year with a perfect ninth inning. The all-time career leader in saves at UD (16) is now tied for the most saves in a single-season with Craig Stammen (2004).

After Toledo started the scoring with two runs on two hits in the first, Dayton evened the score in the second with a pair of runs on its own. Chandler singled up the middle to start the inning and moved to second on a walk by William Benoit. Rohren laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the pair to second and third. After a foul out, Tedesco ripped a double off the centerfield wall for two RBI which knotted the score at 2-2.

UD took the lead in the third behind solid base running from Massa. The Flyer shortstop walked to leadoff the inning. He then stole second and third base and after a pair of walks, Massa scored on a ground ball to the right side by Chandler for a 3-2 Dayton advantage.

The Flyers extended their lead to two runs in the fourth with another big hit from Tedesco. After one out, Ramos reached on an error by the UT first baseman and advanced to second base. Tedesco took advantage of the Toledo miscue by belting a lacing down the right field line for his third RBI of the day to put Dayton up 4-2 after four innings.

Toledo pulled to within one on an RBI single in the fourth. The Rockets then belted a solo home run in the seventh and a two line-drive homer to right in the eighth to build a 6-4 lead entering the ninth inning.

UD started its ninth-inning rally by loading the bases after Tedesco walked, Miller reached on an error and Massa walked. Tedesco came home on a wild pitch while the other two runners moved into scoring position at second and third base for Bobby Getty. The Flyer left fielder hit a hard ground ball off the shoulder of the Rockets' third baseman who was playing in on the play, which allowed Kevin Miller to score from third. On the next play with Galen Schumm at the plate, Massa moved from second to third on a errant pickoff attempt by the Toledo catcher. Schumm took advantage of the mistake by lifting a sacrifice fly to centerfield which gave Dayton the lead. After Bryan Chandler was intentionally walked to put runners at the corners with one out, Benoit poked another sacrifice fly to right field. The Flyers then retired the Rockets in order in the ninth and ended the game with Tedesco snatching a line drive for an 8-6 Dayton victory.