CINCINNATI, Ohio – The University of Dayton baseball team faced Xavier for the second time this season on Friday and suffered an 18-9 defeat.

Xavier took a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the second with four runs in the frame. The Musketeers exploded for another six runs in the third, taking a 10-0 advantage over Dayton.

Four more Xavier runs in the fourth put the Flyers down 14 runs.

Dayton managed to get on the board in the fifth with an RBI single to center by senior Zach Schira.

The Musketeers got the run back in the bottom half of the inning and maintained their big margin.

In the top of the sixth, the Flyers scored three times on an error by the Xavier defense and a two-run double to left-center by sophomore Matt Poland. Schira then capped off the inning with an RBI single to short, closing the gap to 15-5.

Xavier wasn't done however and scored two more in the bottom half of the frame to push its lead back to 12 runs.

Poland added an RBI single in the seventh for Dayton's sixth run of the contest.

The Musketeers got that run back as well with a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh.

The Flyers got a trio of runs in the eighth inning with an RBI single by sophomore Glenn Jones, an RBI groundout by sophomore Mitch Coughlin, and an RBI groundout by sophomore Brad Burkhart. That made it an 18-9 game.

Dayton was unable to make a complete comeback though and fell by the nine-run margin. The Flyers recorded 11 hits in the game, including a three RBI, 2-for-5 outing for Poland and a two RBI, 2-for-5 outing for Schira. Jones also went 3-for-4 in the game.

Starter Mason Kutruff (L, 5-2) was saddled with the loss after giving up four runs on three hits in 1 2/3 innings.

The Flyers (12-31) will return home to host Alabama A&M Saturday at 3 p.m. at Woerner Field. That game will take place immediately after the completion of Xavier vs. A&M, which will also be played in Dayton.