DAYTON, Ohio – The University of Dayton Flyers split with the Eastern Kentucky University Colonials on Monday at EKU. Dayton won the first game 5-4 before taking a 7-2 loss in game two.
During the first game, Molly Meyer stole two bags in the first inning, allowing her to break the University of Dayton career stolen bases record. Meyer has 19 stolen bags this season and 51 in her career.
The Flyers (12-22, 2-4 A-10) started out the day with a strong offensive effort. In the first game, five players combined for 11 hits and five runs. Sophomore Brandy Brown led the way, going 3-for-3 with two RBIs and a double. Lauren Nacke matched that, recording three hits in four at bats.
Dayton got off to an early start at the hands of Kathleen Maloof’s fourth home run this season. After reaching on a walk, Molly Meyer once again showed her speed, stealing two bags. With Meyer on third, Brown drove a sac fly out to center field to bring Meyer home and give the Flyers a 2-0 lead.
With a 3-0 in the fourth, UD put another two on the board. Maloof started off the inning with a single and Maci reached on an error. Brown continued her big hits, knocking one into center to bring home Maloof. Another strong ball by Nacke up the middle would bring Maci home again.
Dayton also scored one in the third off Megan Lee hit through the left side.
The Flyers started the bottom of the seventh ahead 5-1 when the Colonials would start a late game rally. Amanda Daly entered the game in relief and earned her third save of the season squashing the Colonials hopes of a late inning win.
Eva Rappe earned the win after pitching six innings and allowing only three runs. Dayton had 11 hits, five runs and no errors to the Colonials 13 hits, four runs and two errors.
UD dropped their second game of the series 7-2 with Sarah Wedel collecting the loss.
After finding their groove late in the first game, the Colonials carried that power into the second. They were able to put up five runs in the first four innings and held UD scoreless until the fifth inning.
The Flyers lone runs came during the fifth inning off a Nacke single that scored both Maloof and Meyer.
Unlike the first game, Dayton was unable to create any sort of offensive rhythm. In the first four innings, the Flyers did not tally more than one hit per inning. UD finished the game with six hits, two runs and no errors with EKU scoring seven runs, 13 hits and two errors.
Dayton hosts four games this weekend starting Friday against A-10 foe Saint Joesph’s at 3 p.m. on Friday.