DAYTON, Ohio – The University of Dayton baseball team dropped the series finale to Rhode Island on Sunday by a 5-3 margin. The Flyers will head into the final week of the season with a 17-31 (7-14 A-10) record, while the Rams are now 21-26 (11-10 A-10) and just one game back of George Washington to qualify for the Atlantic 10 Championships at the end of the month. Sunday was also Senior Day for Dayton baseball, and Dom Golubiewski, Danny Hentz, Mason Kutruff, Peter Rozman and Masashi Sakamoto were all honored during the pre-game ceremonies.
 
KEY MOMENT
Dayton held a 3-2 lead heading into the ninth for the second straight game, but a barrage of hits from Rhode Island to open the inning pushed the Rams past the Flyers for another successful ninth inning rally. Nick Foley doubled to left center to start the inning, then starting pitcher Aaron Ernst was pulled in favor of Peter Rozman after a Brett McManus single placed runners on the corners for the Rams with no outs. Rozman struck out the first batter he faced, but Lawrence Hill doubled into left center to drive home both McManus and Foley, giving the Rams the lead. Jordan Powell laced a single into left field to drive home Hill and put the Rams up by two runs heading into the bottom of the ninth. Bailey Montoya singled up the middle with one out to put a runner aboard for the Flyers, but Takahiro Yamada grounded into a game-ending double play in the next at-bat.
 
SCORING SUMMARY
 Bottom 3rd: (Dayton 1, Rhode Island 0)
Bailey Montoya and Takahiro Yamada started the inning strong for the Flyers with a pair of singles, then both advanced on a Mitchell Garrity sacrifice bunt. Connor Echols picked up an RBI when his groundout allowed Montoya to score from third for the first run of the game.
 
Top 4th: (Dayton 1, Rhode Island 1)
Three straight one-out singles loaded the bases for Rhode Island and the fourth single of the inning, this one by Nick Foley, tied up the game at 1-1.
 
Top 8th: (Rhode Island 2, Dayton 1)
Sam Ilario homered to left field to open the eighth inning and put the Rams back on top.
 
Bottom 8th: (Dayton 3, Rhode Island 2)
Mitchell Garrity was hit by a pitch and scored when Connor Echols doubled to left center field, tying the game at 2-2. Brandon Smith put the Flyers back in the driver's seat when he hit a bomb off the center field wall, which was good for a double and sent Echols across the plate.
 
Top 9th: (Rhode Island 5, Dayton 3)
Nick Foley doubled to left center to start the inning, then starting pitcher Aaron Ernst was pulled in favor of Peter Rozman after a Brett McManus single placed runners on the corners for the Rams with no outs. Rozman struck out the first batter he faced, but Lawrence Hill doubled into left center to drive home both McManus and Foley, giving the Rams the lead. Jordan Powell laced a single into left field to drive home Hill and put the Rams up by two runs heading into the bottom of the ninth. Bailey Montoya singled up the middle with one out to put a runner aboard for the Flyers, but Takahiro Yamada grounded into a game-ending double play in the next at-bat.
 
UP NEXT
Dayton will host Toledo on Tuesday, May 15 for the team's final home game of the season. The Flyers will then hit the road and conclude its season with a three-game series at Davidson from May 17-19.