AMHERST, Mass. - With a three-run third inning, the University of Dayton softball team pulled ahead of La Salle and eventually defeated the Explorers, 8-4, in the Flyers' first elimination game of the 2015 Atlantic 10 Championship. The four-day event is being held at Sortino Field at UMass Softball Complex. Freshman Manda Cash tossed a complete game for UD with a career-high 11 strikeouts in the circle.
Also for the Flyers, junior Kathryn Hess went 3-for-4 at the plate with two RBI and two runs scored while sophomore Gabrielle Snyder collected two hits and four RBI on the afternoon. UD out-hit LAS, 13-5.
La Salle (15-22) put two runs up in the top of the second inning after the lead-off batter was walked and then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. With two outs, Mackenzie Obert sent a ball over the left-field fence to put the Explorers up, 2-0.
Dayton (38-13) got one back in the bottom of the frame as the Flyers' lead-off batter, senior Tiffany Ricks, went long through center field on a 1-2 pitch – her 13th home run of the season. Cash got the Flyers right back to plate after striking out the side in the top of the third with La Salle ahead, 2-1.
The Flyers loaded the bases in the top of the third and Snyder faced a full count before sending the ball to the left center fence to plate all three runners. The Flyers charged ahead, 4-2, and held the Explorers scoreless in the top of the fourth.
Freshman Kayla Haberstitch led off the fourth with a double after an Explorer collision in left and was moved to third on a Flyer sac bunt. Junior Kennedy Haynes blooped a single to right and senior Natalie Mariano was able to scamper home. Freshman Jaclyn Kweder followed with a single down the right line, allowing Haynes to get to third, and Hess faced the La Salle pitcher with two outs. The team's top bunter swung through the ball and knocked it through the middle for a double that score both base runners.
Cash retired nine consecutive La Salle batters before the Explorers got their offense started up again in the top of the sixth. Michelle Hagarty doubled as the ball got lost in the sun and, with two outs, an Explorer reached on a Flyer throwing error. A subsequent single and double plated two unearned runs for La Salle, to cut the Dayton lead to three, 7-4.
The first two Flyers batters were put out in the bottom of the sixth but Hess rounded first with a single and made it into scoring position on an Explorer fielding error. Snyder brought Hess across with a double to the left-center field wall for her fourth RBI of the game. Dayton ended the sixth inning ahead, 8-4, which would prove to be the final score.
Cash (12-2) tossed a complete game in the win for Dayton. She struck out a career-high 11 batters to only one walk and gave up two earned runs on five hits.
Mary Cate Scott (8-7) was charged with the loss for La Salle after throwing 3.2 innings. She gave up five earned runs on 10 hits and struck out one batter. McKenzie Peace started the game for the Explorers, throwing 2.1 innings.
