DAYTON, Ohio – The University of Dayton baseball team opened its series with Saint Joseph's Friday with a 7-6 loss.

Saint Joseph's was the first team to strike with an RBI double to center in the top of the second. An RBI single to left in the third made it a 2-0 ball game.

In the fourth frame, the Hawks made it a 3-0 contest with a bases-loaded single. The fifth saw another inning of scoring for visiting Saint Joseph's as a pair of two-run home runs pushed the Hawks' lead to seven runs.

The Flyers came alive in the bottom of the fifth with a two-run double to left by sophomore Nick Gobert, putting Dayton on the board. A bases-loaded wild pitch resulted in the Flyers' third run.

UD continued that momentum into the sixth inning when senior Zach Schira ripped a two-run home run off the left-field scoreboard. That pulled the Flyers within two at 7-5.

Saint Joseph's stopped the rally with shutout seventh and eighth frames before Dayton got a run on a groundout in the ninth. It wasn't enough though as the Flyers came up short.

Dayton recorded nine hits in the contest including a 3-for-5 outing by senior Sergio Plasencia. Schira and Gobert both drove in a pair as well.

Junior Ben Polansky (L, 1-1) made his second start in a Dayton uniform and gave up seven runs on nine hits in his 4 1/3 innings of work. Fellow junior Sam Brunner came on in relief and three 4 2/3 scoreless innings with six strikeouts.

The Flyers (11-29, 2-14 A-10) will continue their series with the Hawks Saturday at 9 a.m. It was originally scheduled for 1 p.m., but has been moved ahead. There will be a Roosters Giveaway as well. If Dayton scores three or more runs, everyone in attendance will receive $5 in Roosters bucks.