NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Dayton softball team (5-8) split today in the final two games of the Purple and Gold Challenge. The Flyers won a thriller against Akron in game one, defeating the Zips 6-5. Dayton fell to Lipscomb 3-2 in a heartbreaker in game two that went eight innings.
Game 1 Dayton 6 Akron 5The Flyers took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first with two base hits and three walks. Akron homered down the left field line in the top of the second to get on the board.
Akron freshman Caitlin Gambone doubled to left center in the top of the fifth. Gambone then advanced to third and scored on wild pitches.
There was a 30-minute rain delay after the Zips tied it up in the top of the fifth.
Akron took the first lead of the day in the top of the sixth on a single down the right field line.
Jordan Jennings pounded a triple in the sixth.
Kayla Haberstich grounded out to second and Jennings scored the tying run which would send the game into extra innings.
Dayton had some key performances by freshman in game one.
Kailee Budicin blasted the game winning hit to center field which scored
Natalie Mariano and Gabby Snyder in the eighth.
Kayla Haberstich went 1-for-3 with three RBI.
Manda Cash had a solid game on the mound. She pitched 3.1 innings and gave up two runs on one hit. Cash walked two and struck out four.
Game 2 Lipscomb 3 Dayton 2Gabby Snyder opened up game two with a double down the left field line which knocked in
Natalie Mariano who had been hit by a pitch. The Flyers took an early lead in the top of the first against the Purple and Gold Challenge host Lipscomb (8-9).
The Flyers scored on a wild pitch in the top of the fourth.
Lipscomb answered in the bottom of the fifth, scoring two runs on two hits and tied the game 2-2.
The Flyers and Bison went into extra innings where in the bottom of the eighth the Bison hit a walk off double to right center to win the game 3-2.
The Flyers will travel to Clearwater, Florida next weekend to compete in the USF Under Armour Showcase. They will take on Western Michigan, Robert Morris, Penn, North Florida and Wagner.
