March 25, 2007

CINCINNATI - Visiting Dayton knotted the score at 5-5 in the top of the eighth, but could not get past Xavier in a 9-5 loss in the series finale between the two teams on Sunday. After being swept in its first A-10 series of the season, UD fell to 7-13 overall and 0-3 in A-10 action.

The Flyers had a mixed day in the field with a season-high three double plays while also committing three errors. Dayton also pounded out 11 hits including two home runs while Xavier had 14 hits overall.

UD's offense was led by Jeff Mercer who was 2-for-4 with a two-run blast in the top of the first inning. Scott Dunwoody was 1-for-4 with a three-run homer in the eighth.

Michael Massa was 2-for-5 while Shawn Gizynski and Myles Swartzel were each 2-for-4 to complete a group of four Flyers with multi-hit performances.

Dayton pitching was limited to just one strikeout while surrendering four walks on the afternoon. Senior Cale Ort started on the hill for the Flyers and allowed just one run on five hits over 5.0 innings pitched.

Lucas Farden gave up three runs in four hits over the next 1.1 innings before giving way to Chris Beesley who surrendered a run on one hit in 0.1 innings pitched.

Ryan Hill suffered the loss after allowing four runs (two earned) on four hits while striking out one in 1.1 innings pitched to close out the game.

After two quick outs to start the game, the Dayton bats came alive and a single by Bobby Getty turned into a two-run homerun by first baseman Jeff Mercer, leaving the score at 2-0 after one half inning.

XU would respond with a run in the second as junior Robbie Kelley blasted the first homerun of his career over the left field fence and onto Victory Parkway to cut the lead to 2-1 in favor of the visitors.

After some fine pitching through the next four innings, the Musketeers would rally off four runs in the bottom of the seventh to take the 5-2 lead. Neil Lindgren got things going with a lead-off single off the left field wall. A sacrifice bunt by Tyler Aholt put Lindgren into scoring position before a single to center by freshman Drew Schmidt scored the first run of the inning. Waskerwitz would then record his first of two doubles on the day to push runners to second and third with one out. Adam Pasono would be intentionally walked and load the bases for pinch hitter Sean Farrell. Farrell would take the first pitch in the dirt and the ball would get by the catcher to allow Schmidt to score from third before the sophomore fired a triple to deep right field allowing the final two runs of the inning to cross.

The Flyers charged back in the top half of the eighth inning. After getting two quick fly balls to center, a walk by Joe McSoley and a single by Frank Tedesco saw the Musketeers change pitchers. Catcher Scott Dunwoody greeted the new pitcher, Mike Creevy, by driving a 2-0 pitch to deep left field for a three-run homerun which tied the game at 5-5.

With the score tied at 5-5 entering the bottom of the eighth, Xavier's Matt Waskerwitz stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and one out. The senior roped his team-leading ninth double of the season down the left field line to score the two go-ahead runs. Xavier would then tack on some insurance runs as senior Drew Roberts followed with a single through the left side to score one more before classmate Jordan Wolf singled to right to plate the final two runs of the inning, giving XU the 9-5 victory.