SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Senior C.J. Gillman drove in all of Dayton’s three runs on opening day but the Flyers lost to Ball State, 4-3, in Spartanburg, S.C., on the campus of Wofford College.

The Cardinals (1-0) scored the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth to spoil the first UD appearance on the mound for junior pitcher Parker Schrage (0-1), who received credit for the loss. The defeat was UD’s seventh consecutive opening day loss.

Senior pitcher Burny Mitchem was the opening day starter on the mound for the Flyers. The NCAA’s active career strikeout leader lasted six innings with four strikeouts and allowed three runs.

Dayton (0-1) wasted no time to score the first run of the season as senior Brian Blasik ignited UD’s early offense with a leadoff double in the first inning. Blasik advanced to third and later scored on a ground-out by Gillman.

Ball State would tie the game in the third inning and take a 3-1 advantage with two runs in the sixth inning.

The Flyers would not score again until knotting the game at three in the seventh inning on a two-out, two-run single from Gillman. With the bases loaded Gillman singled up the middle to score Blasik and Jeffery, both runs were unearned. Gillman finished the day 1-for-4 with 13 putouts at first base.

The Cardinals answered in the top of the ninth as Kirby Campbell led off with a single and eventually scored the go-ahead run. With two outs, Campbell was driven in on a single from Mitchem Widau. Schrage gave up the decisive run in the ninth, but retired eight of the 11 batters he faced during his debut as a Flyer.

Dayton and Ball State will meet again this season on March 27 at Time Warner Cable Stadium in Dayton.

The Flyers return to action at King Field tomorrow against host Wofford. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET.

Notes
-Senior centerfielder Bobby Glover went 2-for-3 at the plate and now has a hit in seven of his last eight games, dating back to 2011.
-Senior catcher Josh Jeffery made his first opening-day start behind the plate and went 2-for-4 with one run scored.
-Junior Jared Broughton made his first career start as a Flyer at third base. The juco transfer is in his second season with the program after using a medical redshirt last season.
-Sophomore Mel Skcohdopole started in left field for the first time as a Flyer. Last season, Skochdopole started 29 games at second base and 26 games at shortstop.
-Sophomore Robby Sunderman made his second consecutive opening-day start at second base.
-Mitchem struck out four batters in and now needs just five to own Dayton’s career record held by Cameron Hobson (256).
-Left-handed pitcher Tommy Konrad faced one batter in the ninth, forcing a foul-out pop fly to end the inning.