Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 WILMINGTON, N.C. – The University of Dayton baseball team opened the 2020 season Friday, going 1-1 in two games in Wilmington, N.C. The Flyers opened with a victory over Bryant 9-2 before falling to UNCW 10-9.

The Flyers had the honor of playing in the first game across NCAA Division I with their 12 p.m. start time on Friday against Bryant before following with a game against the host UNCW.

GAME ONE: Dayton 9, Bryant 2

Lone Wolfe
Hunter Wolfe started the game for the Flyers and put on a show. The senior struck out the first eight hitters he faced and nine out of the first 10. Wolfe held the Bulldogs hitless through the first four innings of the game before giving up a double to lead off the fifth.

The senior went 7.0 innings, allowing only two hits and one run over that span while striking out 14 Bulldogs in his 2020 debut.

Coach's Corner
"Hunter Wolfe was a difference maker for us in game one," head coach Jayson King. "He set the tone and the entire team fed off of him."

Scoring Plays
Bottom 4: (2-0 Flyers)
Mariano Ricciardi came up with the first hit of the 2020 season in the bottom of the fourth and sophomore Benjamin Blackwell followed with a triple to put the Flyers on the board. Riley Tirotta came up next and singled to make it 2-0 Flyers.

Bottom 5: (3-0 Flyers)
Marcos Pujols reached on an error to open the bottom of the fifth. After a walk to Tate Hagan and a double play, Pujols scored on a wild pitch by pitcher Tyler Mattison.

Top 6: (3-1 Flyers)
Hunter Wolfe got two quick outs before hitting a batter and walking the next. Gaby Cruz singled to left center to put the Bulldogs on the board.

Bottom 6: (4-1 Flyers)
Riley Tirotta led off the inning with a single up the middle. He advanced to second on a wild pitch and to third on a Jared Howell single before scoring on a Marcos Pujols sacrifice fly to left.

Bottom 7: (8-1 Flyers)
Michael Cleary was hit by a pitch to open the inning followed by a walk to Ricciardi. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch and the Bulldogs intentionally walked Riley Tirotta to load the bases. Bryant pitcher Nash Eppard then hit Alex Brickman, scoring Cleary before Jared Howell pushed a single through the right side scoring Ricciardi and Tirotta. Pujols then was hit by a pitch before Tate Hagan drove in Eddie Pursinger, who pinch ran for Brickman, with a sacrifice fly.

Bottom 8: (9-1 Flyers)
Cleary was hit by his third pitch of the night and advanced to second on a wild pitch. A Ricciardi fly out advanced the junior to third before a Benjamin Blackwell single pushed through the final run of the game for Dayton.

Top 9: (9-2 Flyers)
Kyle Lacalameto retired the first two Bryant hitters of the inning before walking one and giving up an RBI double to Alex Lane. Lacalameto struck out the next hitter to close out the game for the Flyers

Key Stats:
Benjamin Blackwell: 2-5, 1 3B, 2 RBI
Riley Tirotta: 2-3, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 1 run
Jared Howell: 2-4, 2 RBI
Michael Cleary: 3 HBP

GAME TWO: UNCW 10, Dayton 9

The Flyers had the lead going into the bottom of the ninth before UNCW scored three in the final frame to take the game 10-9. Ben Olson started the game for Dayton going 4.0 innings giving up six hits and striking out five. He gave up four runs before leaving in the fifth.

Coach's Corner
"Game two we did some good things but we made too many mistakes to beat a good team," King said. "We will learn from day one and get better from it moving forward."

Scoring Plays
Bottom 2: (2-0 UNCW)
After a scoreless first, the Seahawks put together two runs with two outs after a single to center and a home run to left center by Ron Evans.

Bottom 3: (3-0 UNCW)
Noah Bridges put one over the right field wall to lead off the frame and giving the Seahawks a 3-0 advantage.

Bottom 4: (4-0 UNCW)
Tanner Wells drew a walk for the Seahawks before advancing on a sacrifice bunt. On a stolen base attempt at third, Nolan Watson overthrew Riley Tirotta allowing UNCW to go up 4-0.

Top 5: (4-4)
Marcos Pujols led the charge in the fifth for the Flyers leading off with a double to right field. Nolan Watson stepped up and drove the 1-0 pitch over the left field wall. Michael Cleary drew a one out walk and Mariano Ricciardi reached on a throwing error, advancing himself to second and Cleary to third on the play. Tirotta came up and singled through the left side scoring both runners on base tying the game at 4.

Bottom 6: (5-4 UNCW)
Wells walked followed by a single. Ron Evans then flew out to center field scoring Wells.

Bottom 7: (6-4 UNCW)
Cole Weiss singled and advanced on a passed ball. After a strikeout, Weiss scored on a throwing error by Riley Tirotta.

Top 8: (9-6 Flyers)
Tate Hagan put a one out single into center field, which Cleary followed with one of his own. Both runners advanced on a passed ball and after a strikeout, Benjamin Blackwell singled up the middle scoring Hagan and advancing Cleary to third. Riley Tirotta followed that up with another two strike single scoring Cleary and both he and Blackwell advanced on a bad throw. Alex Brickman then singled the next pitch after a UNCW communication error with both runners on base. Eddie Pursinger pinch ran for Brickman and after a Connor Wilson walk, Marcos Pujols came through with his third hit of the night driving Pursinger in from second.

Bottom 8: (9-7 Flyers)
Wells led off the eighth with a leadoff home run off Tyler Jones to cut the Flyers lead to two.

Bottom 9: (10-9 UNCW)
Back-to-back walks for the Seahawks opened the ninth. Nate Espelin came on in relief for Bryce Hellgeth and the Seahawks put up back-to-back singles tying the game at nine. Brian Robertson walked Wells to load the bases. Jordan Cox came on and got the first hitter to ground into a fielder's choice, but then walked Evans giving the Seahawks the win.

Key Stats:
Riley Tirotta: 3-5, 3 RBI, 1 run
Marcos Pujols: 3-5, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 run
Alex Brickman: 2-5, 2 RBI

Up Next:
Dayton will face off against Bryant at 12 p.m. on Saturday