RICHMOND, Va. – The University of Dayton baseball team started off its series at Richmond on Friday with a tough 13-5 loss to the Spiders.

The Spiders were the first team to strike in the bottom of the first with a pair of runs on a pair of hits, taking a 2-0 initial lead.

Dayton quickly answered in the top of the third though with a two-run single up the middle by sophomore Mitch Coughlin. A bases-loaded hit by pitch by sophomore Robbie Doring then drove in the go-ahead run.

It was then Richmond's turn to answer as they scored a single run in the bottom of the third to tie the game up at 3-3.

Sophomore Matt Poland gave the Flyers the lead once again in the top of the fifth with an RBI single to center.

The Spiders managed to tie the game back up at 4-4 with an RBI double in the bottom half of the frame. Another run in the fifth gave Richmond its first lead since the second inning at 5-4.

That score held until the bottom of the seventh as the Spiders added four runs to their lead for a 9-4 advantage.

Senior Zach Schira then scored in the top of the eighth on a wild pitch by Richmond, pulling the Flyers within four.

In the bottom of the eighth, the Spiders scored another four runs to add to their lead, making it a 13-5 game. That was enough of a cushion for Richmond to take game one.

Dayton was out-hit in the contest 15-8 and left 10 runners stranded. Poland led the way with a 3-for-4 outing and an RBI while Coughlin drove in a pair. Schira and Rhude both added two-hit games as well.

Starter Charlie Dant (L, 1-10) allowed five runs on nine hits before giving way to the bullpen. Junior Sam Brunner pitched the sixth and seventh before freshmen Danny Hentz and Tyson Schnitkey combined for the eighth.

The Flyers (14-34, 3-16 A-10) will face the Spiders again on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET.