Feb. 23, 2008
ATLANTA - A late game rally by the University of Dayton Flyers was not enough in a 6-5 loss to the Tennessee State Tigers in game two of the Panther Invitational at Georgia State. The Flyers (0-6) are still seeking their first win of the season, while the Tigers are now 3-0 this season.
Mollie Schrank led the Flyers for the entire day with a 2-for-3 performance against Georgia State and was 3-of-4 against Tennessee State in the second game. Schrank also scored twice on the day with one run in each of her games.
"Mollie was 5-of-7 today and consistently getting on base," said coach Cara Clark. "She served as a spark plug for our offense today."
Blair Crabtree hit another home run in Saturday's contest. It is her seventh career blast which ties her for sixth in Flyer history. Crabtree's homer also brought three runners home.
Eva Rappe recorded her third loss of the season (0-3) giving up four runs in four innings. Rappe also sat down two batters during her time in the circle giving her eight strikeouts this season. Leah Buls provided relief for Rappe as the game wore on allowing two runs on 15 batters faced.
"Leah stepped in and really held the game together when things weren't going our way offensively," said Clark. "She is making a lot of progress."
It was a slower start than usual for the Flyers, who are used to getting on the board early this year. Faced with a challenging six run deficit in the bottom of the seventh inning, sophomore Molly Meyer brought the first run home for UD. Schrank repeated the effort with a single up the middle bringing Katie Jordan home.
With two on and one out, Crabtree stepped up to bat and belted a three-run shot over the left field wall pulling Dayton within one run of TSU. Laura Matthews reached on a fielding error in centerfield and Megan Lee singled into left field, putting the go-ahead run on first base. In the end, however, Tennessee State was able to force a pop up to end the game and end the Flyers surge.
In the first game the Flyers were knocked off by the unbeaten Georgia State Panthers, 8-2. Georgia State came into Saturday's game averaging 13 runs and scored 42 times in the first inning alone. Dayton held Georgia State scoreless through the first frame, but fell short as the game progressed.
Matthews was 2-of-2 at the plate and Meyer and Ann Maci both had RBI's in their loss to the Panthers.
The Flyers will look to settle the score with Tennessee State tomorrow at 10 a.m. This is a time change from their originally scheduled game against the Tigers at 12:15 p.m. For more information about the Flyers and all of the latest scores and statistics visit www.DaytonFlyers.com.
