PHILADELPHIA -- The University of Dayton baseball team completed a sweep over La Salle on Saturday afternoon with a pair of wins in a doubleheader. Dayton took the first game by a score of 9-5 and followed that game up with a 9-7 winning effort in the series finale. The Flyers are now 28-21-1 (15-6 A-10) on the year, while the Explorers drop to 24-26 (3-15 A-10).
Game One
KEY MOMENT
With the game tied at 3-3 heading into the eighth,
Takahiro Yamada doubled down the left field line, then
Benjamin Blackwell put Dayton ahead for the first time of the day with a triple to right center. Blackwell scored when
Riley Tirotta reached on a fielding error, then a
Jay Curtis single brought Tirotta home.
SCORING SUMMARY
Bottom 1: La Salle 3, Dayton 0
Each of the first four batters reached base, including three hits and a walk, and the Explorers scored three runs in the opening frame.
Top 4: Dayton 3, La Salle 3
Benjamin Blackwell singled,
Riley Tirotta doubled and
Jay Curtis was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
Alex Brickman cleared the bases with a double to right center to drive in all three runners.
Top 8: Dayton 6, La Salle 3
Takahiro Yamada doubled down the left field line, then
Benjamin Blackwell put Dayton ahead for the first time of the day with a triple to right center. Blackwell scored when
Riley Tirotta reached on a fielding error, then a
Jay Curtis single brought Tirotta home.
Top 9: Dayton 9, La Salle 3
All of the first three batters in the inning reached base, as
Connor Wilson walked,
Takahiro Yamada was hit by a pitch and
Michael Cleary singled.
Benjamin Blackwell was hit by a pitch to send Wilson across the plate and Yamada scored on a
Connor Echols sacrifice fly.
Riley Tirotta drove home Cleary with a single to right center.
Bottom 9: Dayton 9, La Salle 5
Brian Tagoe homered to right field -- a two-run shot to round out scoring for the day.
KEY STATS
- Benjamin Blackwell and Riley Tirotta led the way at the plate with two hits apiece.
- Alex Brickman's bases-clearing double drove him three runners.
- Starting pitcher Cole Pletka threw 6.0 innings and struck out nine batters, marking the fourth time this season the right-hander has struck out nine or more.
- RJ Wagner earned the win after throwing three strong innings of relief.
Game Two
KEY MOMENT
Dayton trailed 7-3 heading into the seventh, but a five-run frame put the Flyers in front for the rest of the game.
SCORING SUMMARY
Top 3: Dayton 3, La Salle 0
Benjamin Blackwell walked with two outs and scored on the next at-bat when
Connor Echols singled up the middle and a throwing error gave Blackwell the time he needed to break for home.
Riley Tirotta hit a two-run home run to put the Flyers up by three.
Bottom 3: La Salle 5, Dayton 3
La Salle scored its first three runs of the inning without getting a single hit, then the Explorers took the lead on a Jack Cucinotta two-run home run.
Bottom 4: La Salle 6, Dayton 3
Two walks put a runner in scoring position, then Ben Faso singled through the left side to put La Salle up by three.
Bottom 6: La Salle 7, Dayton 3
Brian Tagoe walked and Nick Hopkins singled to give La Salle runners at the corners. Ben Faso grounded out to short to drive in Tagoe.
Top 7: Dayton 8, La Salle 7
Michael Cleary (HBP),
Benjamin Blackwell (E1), and
Riley Tirotta (BB) all reached to load the bases with one out.
Jay Curtis singled to drive in the first run of the inning and
Alex Brickman followed with a double to cut the lead to just one. Curtis scored on a wild pitch to tie the game, then
Connor Wilson put Dayton in the driver's seatÂ
Top 8: Dayton 9, La Salle 7
Jay Curtis picked up an RBI by reaching base via error with the bases loaded.
KEY STATS
- Connor Wilson drove in the go-ahead run in front of friends and family, as La Salle's campus is just 15 miles from his hometown of Wayne, Pa.
- Riley Tirotta, Jay Curtis and Alex Brickman all had two hits and two RBIs apiece.
- Dylan Keller picked up his first career win after throwing 3.0 innings and striking out a career-high six batters.
- Tyler Jones earned his second save of the series for his team-high fifth of the season to tie him for sixth all-time for save in a single season in Dayton history.
UP NEXT
- Dayton will get next week off to focus on final exams and the Flyers will be back in action at Morehead State on May 14 at 5 p.m.
