WASHINGTON, D.C. - The University of Dayton softball team opened Atlantic 10 Conference play with two wins at George Washington on Saturday. The Flyers downed the Colonials, 1-0, in a classic pitchers' duel then claimed a 12-2 win in six in the nightcap.

Dayton improves to 14-13 overall and 2-0 in A-10 play while George Washington is now an even 13-13 on the season and 0-2 in league action.

SCORING BREAKDOWN
Game One: Dayton 1, George Washington 0
Top Fifth
Both teams remained scoreless through the first four innings but the Flyers were able to put the ball in play in the fifth as sophomore Madi Maloof batted her second double of the season. Junior Jaclyn Kweder replaced her at second and freshman Ellie Ziegler collected the only RBI of the contest with a two-out single.

Game Two: Dayton 12, George Washington 2 (6)
Top First
The first two Flyer batters were retired but sophomore Kyle Davidson singled to left center. Senior Katie Ryan followed with a double and Davidson kicked it into high gear, racing all the way home. Freshman Julia Blarr also tallied a RBI in the inning by plating Ryan with a single to left center. Dayton was ahead, 2-0, after the first three outs of the game.
Top Second
Dayton opened the second with three consecutive walks to load the bases and senior Gabrielle Snyder batted in a run with her subsequent single. Still loaded, Davidson walked in a run and Ryan was able to clear the bases with her single and a booted ball by the George Washington center fielder. After one-and-a-half innings, Dayton was in front, 7-0.
Top Fourth
Ryan scored a run from first as Blarr sent a ball to the left field wall for a double, giving Blarr the chance to advance to third on the throw. With senior Hannah DeSalvo up to bat, Blarr scurried home when the Colonial catcher lost track of a wild pitch. The Flyers took a 9-0 lead into the bottom of the fourth.
Bottom Fourth
With two runners on, George Washington was finally able to score its first run of the day on a single down the right field line. The next Colonial batter singled to plate another run but that would be the end of the GW rally.
Top Sixth
Davidson was hit by a pitch and then replaced at first by sophomore Kelly Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald was moved to second on a fielding error by the Colonial right fielder and DeSalvo used a sacrifice bunt to set runners on second and third. Sophomore Lisa Tassi was called in to hit, reaching first on a single, but an errant throw by the GW shortstop enable both base runners to score.

KEY STATS
.429 - both Blar and Ryan were 3-for-7 at the plate on the day, posting a .429 hitting percentage
0.00 - junior Manda Cash tossed eight scoreless innings, including a complete-game shutout in the first game
3 - Ryan tallied three hits, three RBI and scored three runs

UP NEXT
Dayton and George Washington will close out their three-game series Sunday. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. at GW Softball Field.