DAVIDSON, N.C. – The University of Dayton baseball team opened up its series at Davidson on Friday with a 9-4 loss to the host Wildcats.

The Flyers took little time to put a run on the board as sophomore Glenn Jones hit an RBI single to center in the top of the first.

Davidson answered with a single run in the bottom half of the inning to even the score up at 1-1. The Wildcats went on to take a 4-1 lead in the third with a three-run home run.

In the top of the fifth, Dayton got two runs back on senior A.J. Ryan's two-run home run to right, closing the gap to one run.

The Wildcats countered again in the bottom of the fifth with two runs to extend their advantage back to three. Another run in the sixth made it a 7-3 contest.

Senior Sergio Plasencia hit a solo home run in the seventh frame, Dayton's second of the game and his third of the season.

Two more runs in the bottom of the seventh put the game out of reach for the Flyers as they fell to Davidson 9-4.

Dayton's 14 hits in the game were the second-highest total this season, but UD left nine runners stranded. Ryan provided two RBI while going 2-for-4 and Plasencia went 3-for-5 with a home run, double, and three runs scored.

Starter Charlie Dant (L, 1-8) pitched five innings, allowing four earned runs on seven hits. Relievers Sam Brunner and Danny Hentz also saw time on the mound before freshman Tyson Schnitkey closed out the final 1 1/3 innings with shutout work.

The Flyers (11-25, 2-11 A-10) will finish the series on Saturday with a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.