- Box Score - Game 1
- Box Score - Game 2
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The University of Dayton softball team picked up its first win of the season against South Dakota State Saturday afternoon, 2-1, before falling to Valparaiso 6-5 in eight innings in the night cap.
Game 1 – Dayton 2, South Dakota State 1
The Flyers got their first win of the 2013 campaign by defeating the Jackrabbits 2-1 on junior Tiffany Ricks’ walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning.
The game remained scoreless through the early stages of the game as both pitching staff’s held the opposing hitters in check.
Dayton opened up the scoring in the sixth inning when junior Dana Trotta drew a bases loaded walk, scoring senior Leah Sitter and giving the Flyers a 1-0 advantage.
SDSU answered in the top of the seventh with a run of their own and threatened to take the game into extra innings.
The Flyers made sure that would not happen though as they scored the game-winner with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. Sophomore Natalie Mariano walked to lead off the inning and was moved to second on sophomore Jordan Jennings sacrifice bunt. A ground-out moved Mariano to third, setting up the opportunity for Ricks.
Ricks ripped a single down the left-field line, scoring Mariano and giving Dayton its first win of the season.
Starter Kayla English (1-4) was outstanding on the mound for the Flyers, giving up just one run on three hits in the complete game victory.
Jennings, Ricks, and juniors Kasi Vazquez and Rachel Archer all recorded hits for Dayton as the Flyers out-hit the Jackrabbits.
Game 2 – Valparaiso 6, Dayton 5 (8 innings)
In the second game of the day, the Flyers came up just short in their meeting with Valparaiso as the Crusaders benefited from a game-winning run in the eighth inning.
Dayton struck first in the opening frame with a two-run home run by Ricks. The Flyers doubled their lead in the third inning with two more runs on Vazquez’s two-run shot, making it a 4-0 contest.
Valpo closed the gap with single runs in the fourth and sixth innings, before UD scored another run in the seventh on sophomore Jenna Lopes’ RBI single.
The Flyers held the 5-2 advantage, but the Crusaders stormed back with three runs in the bottom of the seventh, forcing extra innings.
Valparaiso rode the momentum into the eighth where the Crusaders won on an error.
Sydney Cicchetti (0-1) was saddled with the loss after giving up the final run.
Vazquez anchored the offense with a 2-for-3 outing, two runs scored, and two RBIs. Ricks contributed two more RBIs while Lopes provided the other.
Dayton (1-7) finishes up the Hilltopper Classic on Sunday when it faces Pittsburgh at 1 p.m. and Western Kentucky at 3:30 p.m.
"Our offense really stepped up today" said head coach Cara LaPlaca. "The fences at the park were tall so the home runs we had were big. Unfortunately, we weren't able to hold the lead at the end of game two. We give Valpo credit. Our offense is coming to life though and hopefully that is a sign of things to come."
