KINGSTON, R.I. – The University of Dayton softball team battled tough conditions on Friday afternoon while taking on the University of Rhode Island, ultimately prevailing 12-5 at the URI Softball Complex.

Scoring Breakdown
Top 1st – Dayton wasted no time getting on the board, as freshman Lisa Tassi smacked her second home run of the season over the left field wall and brought home junior Gabrielle Snyder to give the Flyers a 2-0 lead.
Bottom 2nd – Rhode Island brought the game back to even at 2-2 with two runs of its own, taking advantage of a walk and two doubles.
Top 3rd – Snyder came around to score on a URI error off the bat of senior Kathryn Hess, giving the Flyers the lead again at 3-2.
Top 3rd – Senior Krista Gustafson kicked off what would be a great day with an RBI single to right field to score Hess, putting Dayton up 4-2.
Top 3rd – Putting the exclamation point on the inning was junior Hannah DeSalvo, who clubbed her first home run of the season to put UD up 6-2.
Top 4th – With the bases loaded, Gustafson drove home two with a single that scored Snyder and sophomore Jaclyn Kweder, giving the Flyers an 8-2 advantage.
Top 4th – Another Rhode Island error brought home sophomore Kailee Budicin to give Dayton its third run of the inning and a 9-2 lead.
Bottom 5th – The Rams pulled a run closer with a home run, making the score 9-3.
Top 7th – URI's fourth error of the game brought home another run for the Flyers, stretching UD's lead out to 10-3.
Top 7th – A wild pitch on a walk to senior Kennedy Haynes brought home DeSalvo for yet another run and giving Dayton an 11-3 lead.
Top 7th – Freshman Kelly Fitzgerald scored the last run of the game for Dayton on a sacrifice fly by Hess to give the Flyers their final tally of 12.
Bottom 7th – Dayton's defense got a bit sloppy in the final inning, as Rhode Island scored two unearned runs. The Rams would get no more, however, and the Flyers came out on top 12-5.

Key Stats
Gustafson finished the game 3-for-3 with a walk, three RBI, and two runs scored. It's the second three-hit game for the senior, and the first time she registered a multi-RBI performance.

The Lilburn, Ga. native is 11-for-20 (11-for-20) since Atlantic 10 play started.

Sophomore Manda Cash twirled a gem in the circle to pick up her third win of the year. She allowed three earned runs on three hits while striking out 10 Rams in the complete game.

Her 10 strikeouts marked the third time this season that Cash registered a double-digit strikeout total.

DeSalvo's home run was just the second of the junior's career. The Noblesville, Ind. native is hitting .333 with a .500 on-base percentage in A-10 play this year.

Tassi home run was her second on the season. Both round-trippers this year have come in the first inning of their respective games.

Snyder's return to the starting lineup saw her go 1-for-2 with three walks and a double out of the leadoff spot.

UP NEXT
Dayton returns to action against Rhode Island in the double header portion of the three-game series. The Flyers and Rams are set for a noon ET first pitch at the URI Softball Complex.