MACON, Ga. - The University of Dayton softball team opened the 2017 season with two wins on day one of the Mercer Invitational. The first game ended after the sixth with Dayton ahead of Portland State, 10-2, while the second game took an extra inning with Dayton coming out on top, 3-2, over Kent State.

Dayton improves to 2-0 while both Portland State and Kent State started the season 0-1.

KEY STATS
.800 – sophomore catcher Kyle Davidson went 4-for-5 (.800), including her first career home run, at the plate on the afternoon. She scored two runs and knocked in two RBI.
4 – three Flyers recorded four hits on the day. In addition to Davidson, senior Gabrielle Snyder was 4-for-7 (.571) and junior Kayla Haberstich went 4-for-8 (.500). Snyder also knocked out a long ball in the game against Kent State.
9 – junior pitcher Manda Cash recorded nine strikeouts in her six-inning, complete-game outing against Portland State

Dayton 10, Portland State 2 (6)
Portland State opened the scoring in the first inning with a double down the left field line but the Vikings would muster no more offense in the game. Dayton put up a three-spot in the second to take the lead and never looked back. The Flyers also scored in the fourth, fifth and six innings to cut the contest short after leading by eight after sis.

Dayton 3, Kent State 2 (8)
With solo home runs in the first and second innings, Dayton was able to match Kent State's score at two runs apiece. Neither team could get their bats going and the score remained tied after seven innings. In the bottom of the eighth, Haberstich was placed on second and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt. Sophomore Lisa Tassi scored the winning run with her walk-off single that plated Haberstich.

UP NEXT
Dayton continues its weekend at the Mercer Invitational on Saturday with match-ups against Murray State and host Mercer. The Flyers and the Racers will square off in the first game of the day at 9:30 a.m. In the nightcap, Dayton and Mercer will get underway at approximately 4:15 p.m.