DAYTON, Ohio – The University of Dayton softball team locked in an epic battle with Saint Joseph's on Saturday afternoon, winning the first game of the double header 1-0 in 11 innings, and finishing game two tied 1-1 at UD Softball Stadium.
UD and SJU played a combined 29 innings in their three-game series, with each team scoring five runs.
GAME ONE – Dayton 1 Saint Joseph's 0Scoring BreakdownBottom 11th – With the bases loaded and one out, junior
Gabrielle Snyder smacked a single into left field to bring home freshman
Aspyn Novak and give the Flyers a hard-fought victory.
Key StatsFreshman starting pitcher
Jessica Gilliam allowed just one hit over seven innings of play. The rookie struck out five while walking none.
Snyder picked up the win in relief, also allowing just one base runner (via walk) and striking out five.
Three Flyers had multi-hit games, with senior
Krista Gustafson and sophomore
Kailee Budicin leading the way with 3-for-5 performances.
Junior
Hannah DeSalvo tacked on a 2-for-4 showing.
In total, UD outhit SJU 13-1 in the first game of the day.
GAME TWO – Dayton 1 Saint Joseph's 1Scoring Breakdown Top 3rd – After a double and a sacrifice bunt started the inning for Saint Joe's, a single to centerfield off reliever
Manda Cash gave the Hawks a 1-0 lead.
Bottom 4th – With two away in the inning, sophomore
Kayla Haberstich lined a double into the left field corner to score senior
Kennedy Haynes all the way from first to tie the score 1-1.
Key StatsDue to a predetermined cutoff time, the game finished in a 1-1 tie. It is only the second tie of Head Coach
Cara LaPlaca's career.
The hit parade continued for UD in the second game, as they finished with eight as a team.
Junior
Katie Ryan was the only Flyer with a multi-hit game, going 2-for-3.
Freshman
Kelly Fitzgerald picked up her first collegiate hit with a pinch-hit single in the second inning.
Cash, after tossing all 11 innings of Friday night's game, pitched the final 4 2/3 innings of the nightcap, allowing just two hits while striking out five.
UP NEXTDayton is back in action on Tuesday, March 29 when they host Morehead State for a Disney Double Header, starting at 3 p.m.