Tiger Classic Tournament Central

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Dayton softball team split its games on the first day of the Tennessee State Tiger Classic, picking up the 3-2 win over Temple and falling 14-2, to Western Michigan. The Flyers will return to action tomorrow starting with Youngstown State at 11 a.m. CT.

Junior Tiffany Ricks went 4-for-7 on the day for Dayton (1-6), including one home run (2) and one double (3), while scoring four runs and going 2-for-2 in stolen bases.

GAME TWO: Dayton 3, Temple 2 | Box Score | Photo Gallery
Ricks led off the second inning with a full-count, single home run to get the Flyers on the board, her second long ball of the season. Temple answered in the top of the third after loading the bases with a single, double and an error. Kastner was able to come across home plate on a Flyer passed ball to even the game at 1-1.

Dayton put up two more runs in the fourth after Ricks led off the frame with a double and senior Kasi Vazquez singled but was able to advance second on the throw. Sophomore Kirsten Bartlett replaced Vazquez on the bag and freshman Katie Ryan made the best of her first career hit batting a two-RBI double, scoring both runners. The Flyers ended the inning holding the 3-1 advantage.

Kelsey Dominik got a run back in the top of the seventh with a first-pitch solo home run. But that would be the end of the Owl rally. The Flyers held on for the 3-2 win.

Snyder (1-1) was credited with the win in the circle for Dayton after tossing six innings. She struck out three batters to two walks and gave up two runs on eight hits. Sophomore Emily Froment picked up a save after working the seventh inning.

Dominik (0-1) took the loss for the Owls after throwing a complete game for Temple. She struck out three while walking two and gave up three runs on eight hits.

GAME TWO: Western Michigan 14, Dayton 2 | Box Score | Photo Gallery

Western Michigan got two quick runs in the first inning when Jenny Rohn doubled in two runners as the Broncos took the 2-0 lead. Dayton got a run back in the bottom of the first when Ricks singled and then stole second. In scoring position, Ricks made it to third on a WMU error and then quietly crossed home plate on the play.

The score remained 2-1 in favor of the Broncos until the fifth inning as each team added a run. Western Michigan's Mackenzie Ritsema sent a solo shot over the right field fence but left a runner on base in the inning. Junior Natalie Mariano got on base with a single but was put out at second as Ricks reached first. She moved over to second as Vazquez was put out at first and Ricks again scored on a Bronco error, pulling the Flyers to within one, 3-2.

The game got away from UD in the sixth inning as WMU exploded for five runs in the frame. The Broncos followed that with a six-run seventh to set the final score at 14-2 in favor of Western Michigan.

Junior Kayla English (0-3) was charged with the loss in the circle for Dayton, throwing 5.1 innings while striking out three and walking two. She gave up three earned runs on eight hits. Froment put in two outs of middle relief and Snyder faced three batters in the seventh. Junior Lindsey Diggs closed out the game for UD, throwing the final three outs as she struck out one, walked one and gave up one hit.

Allyson Kus (3-2) claimed the win throwing a complete game for Western Michigan. She struck out two, walked two and had zero earned runs on five hits.