DAYTON, Ohio - The University of Dayton softball team split its Atlantic 10 Conference doubleheader against Saint Joseph's Sunday at UD Softball Stadium. The Flyers claimed game one, 5-2, while the Hawks held on for the 3-2 win in the nightcap. Junior Tiffany Ricks knocked out her team-leading ninth home run of the season in the first game, a three-run blast that proved to score the game-winning run.

In addition to Ricks, four other Flyers recorded multiple hits on the day while sophomore Kennedy Haynes also sent a ball over the fence, her second of the season. Junior Natalie Mariano extended her streak of reaching base to 12 games.

GAME ONE: Dayton 5, Saint Joseph's 2 | Box Score (PDF)
Dayton (17-23, 3-7 A-10) tallied a single run in the first inning as senior Alysha Isaacson doubled in senior Kasi Vazquez who had reached base after being hit by a pitch. Saint Joseph's (14-15, 4-4 A-10) evened the score in the third as a runner made it home on a ground out.

The Hawks took the lead in the top of the fifth when Hannah Dionne led off the frame with a solo home run to left field. The lead was short lived as Ricks stepped to the plate with two on and sent a ball over the center field fence, scoring three runs to give UD a 4-2 advantage. Haynes tacked on an insurance run when she led off the sixth with a solo shot to left and Dayton claimed the 5-2 win.

Junior Kayla English (12-10) earned the win in the circle for the Flyers after working a complete game. She struck out six while walking three and gave up two earned runs on four hits.

Liz Mendez (6-8) was charged with the loss after throwing 5.1 innings. She struck out 10 while walking seven and gave up five earned runs on four hits. Emily Rogers finished the game for the Hawks, working the final two outs.

GAME TWO: Saint Joseph's 3, Dayton 2 | Box Score (PDF)
SJU scored first in the second game, scoring two in the first inning with a two-run homer. UD got a run back in the bottom of the third when senior Rachel Archer got on with a two-out double and was brought home on Mariano's RBI single.

Both teams scored a run in the fourth, setting the score at 3-2 which proved to be the final margin.

Freshman Gabrielle Snyder (5-7) took the loss for Dayton as she gave up all three Hawk runs. Sophomore Emily Froment worked 2.2 innings, striking out two and walking three while junior Lyndsey Diggs closed out the game for the Flyers, tossing 1.1 innings with one strikeout and one walk.

Rogers (2-3) earned the win for Saint Joseph's after effectively pitching one inning of relief. Niki Carillo was the Hawks' starter but only threw three innings. She gave up two earned runs on six hits and struck out one Flyer batter. Anna Lauterbach earned the save after working the final three innings of the game.

The Flyers will return to action on Tuesday with a home doubleheader against Akron. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. at UD Softball Stadium and admission is free.

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