DAYTON -- The University of Dayton baseball team defeated Ohio University by a score of 15-5 on Wednesday afternoon at DP&L Stadium. Connor Echols and Riley Tirotta led the way for Dayton with four runs batted in apiece, while Michael Cleary also added some offense with his first career home run. The Flyers are now 5-9-1 this season, while Ohio's record drops to 3-11.

KEY MOMENT
Despite Dayton jumping out to an early 5-0 lead through three innings of play, Ohio scored two runs in the top of the fourth to put themselves back in striking distance, but a five-run fourth from the Flyers seemingly put the game out of reach at 10-2. 

Michael Cleary opened the bottom of the fourth with a solo home run to right, then Benjamin Blackwell (HBP) and Mitchell Garrity both reached base before Connor Echols cleared them once again with Dayton's second home run of the inning, a three-run blast. Eddie Pursinger doubled off the wall in center, then was driven home by Riley Tirotta on a two-out single up the middle to extend the lead to eight.

SCORING SUMMARY
Bottom 2: Dayton 2, Ohio 0
Eddie Pursinger singled up the middle to kick off the inning and Riley Tirotta laced a ball down the left field line for another two-bagger to send him home. Tirotta would score on the next at-bat when Takahiro Yamada singled to center field.

Bottom 3: Dayton 5, Ohio 0
Benjamin Blackwell, Mitchell Garrity and Alex Brickman all singled to load the bases for Dayton. Jay Curtis drew a walk to force in Blackwell from third and Riley Tirotta picked up two more RBI with a single to center.

Top 4: Dayton 5, Ohio 2
Trevor Lukkes walked to open the inning and scored when Rudy Rott doubled to right field. Rott advanced to third on the play due to a misplay of the ball from Cleary in right and went on to score on an Aaron Levy groundout.

Bottom 4: Dayton 10, Ohio 2
Michael Cleary opened the bottom of the fourth with a solo home run to right, then Benjamin Blackwell (HBP) and Mitchell Garrity both reached base before Connor Echols cleared them once again with Dayton's second home run of the inning, a three-run blast. Eddie Pursinger doubled off the wall in center, then was driven home by Riley Tirotta on a two-out single up the middle to extend the lead to eight.

Bottom 5: Dayton 13, Ohio 2
Three straight singles from Michael Cleary, Benjamin Blackwell and Mitchell Garrity put another run on the board for Dayton, as Garrity's single to center sent Cleary across the plate. Pursinger singled to send in Blackwell and Garrity scored when Jay Curtis reached on an error by the shortstop.

Bottom 6: Dayton 15, Ohio 2
Takahiro Yamada (BB) and Michael Cleary (HBP) both reached to start the inning and Connor Echols picked up his fourth RBI with a lined shot down the left field line to drive in Yamada. Cleary scored on a wild pitch later in the inning.

Top 9: Dayton 15, Ohio 5
A two-out bases clearing doubled to right center from Cole Revels drove in three to close out scoring for the game.

KEY STATS

• Dayton's leadoff hitter reached base in six of eight innings
• Michael Cleary hit the first home run of his career with a solo home run to right field in the fourth inning.
• Connor Echols also hit his first home run of the season with a three-run blast in the fourth.
• Echols and Riley Tirotta led the team with four RBI apiece.
• Tirotta's four runs driven in and three hits both tied career highs.
• Cleary was hit by a pitch for the ninth time this season and at his current pace would shatter the record for most HBP's in a season (21 - Jacob Spaeth, 2009).
• Starting pitcher RJ Wagner threw 6.0 innings, allowing just five hits and one earned run, while striking out a career-high eight batters.
• Jordan Cox earned the three-inning save to move into a tie for sixth all-time for the Dayton career saves list with seven.
• Eddie Pursinger tied with Tirotta for a team-high three hits, which set a new career-high for Pursinger in a Dayton uniform.
• Echols, Mitchell Garrity, Michael Cleary and Benjamin Blackwell all also posted mult-hit games.

UP NEXT
The Flyers will play a four-game, home-and-home set with Ball State this weekend:

• Friday, March 15 at 3 p.m. (ET) in Dayton, Ohio
• Saturday, March 16 at 12 p.m. (ET) in Muncie, Ind. **Doubleheader** 
• Sunday, March 17 at 1 p.m. (ET) in Dayton, Ohio