May 17, 2011

Box Score

RICHMOND, Ky. – University of Dayton baseball lost its final non-conference game of the regular season, 10-5, against Eastern Kentucky on Tuesday evening at Turkey Hughes Field.

Junior shortstop Brian Blasik recorded four of Dayton’s eight hits, while junior first baseman C.J. Gillman extended his career-long hitting streak to 16 games. Blasik finished 4-for-5 at the plate with a run and a run batted in. Gillman scored a run on three walks, and kept his streak alive with a ninth-inning single.

Dayton (28-24) took an early 3-0 lead through two and a half innings. Junior right-handed pitcher Tim Bury started the game for UD and threw two shutout innings. But Eastern Kentucky rallied back with a combined seven runs in the fourth and fifth innings.

The Colonels (21-31), of the Ohio Valley Conference, scored five runs in the fifth inning to take the go-ahead 7-3 lead. EKU added three more unearned insurance runs in the eighth inning. Leadoff man and shortstop Richie Rodriguez led EKU with four hits and two RBI, as second baseman Dustin Dublop drove in three runs on two triples.

Blake Bottoms (1-1) pitched 3 2/3 innings with two strikeouts to earn the win for EKU. Sophomore Bryce Lahrman (2-3) threw two innings and allowed five runs to earn the loss on the mound.

Three of Dayton’s run were driven in by sacrifice flies and 10 Flyers were left on base.

The Flyers return home to host a three-game series with Rhode Island – the A-10’s first-place team. The series finale and last regular season game of the season on Saturday will mark the celebration of Senior Day, honoring eight of Dayton’s departing upperclassmen.