WILMINGTON, N.C. – The University of Dayton baseball team continued its opening weekend with a 5-3 win over Bryant on Saturday on the campus of UNCW.

The Flyers took the first game against Bryant on Friday night and backed that up with Saturday's victory.

Coach's Corner
"Cole Pletka didn't necessarily have his best day out there but he fought and he went a good distance for us," head coach Jayson King said. "Overall I liked how we executed in certain situations and found a way to get the job done."

On the Mound
Pletka picked up his first win of 2020, going 6.1 innings and giving up two earned runs. The senior struck out 10 on the day.

He was relieved by Justin Longbrake who went 2.1 hitless innings and striking out four of the six batters he faced. The senior gave way to Jared Howell who closed the door earning his first save of the season.

The Flyers combined for 15 strikeouts and now have 44 over the three games to start the season.

Scoring Plays
Top 1: (2-0 Flyers)
Mariano Ricciardi led off the game with a single to right center for the Flyers. After two strikeouts Alex Brickman stepped up to the plate and drove one over the left field wall for his first home run of the season and giving Dayton a 2-0 lead.

Top 3: (3-0 Flyers)
Michael Cleary opened the frame getting hit by a pitch. In three games, Cleary already has been hit by four pitches after being hit by 28 last season. The junior stole second and Benjamin Blackwell singled to right center, scoring Cleary and extended the lead to three early.

Bottom 3: (3-1 Flyers)
Pletka allowed a one-out double to James Ciliento. He advanced on a failed pickoff attempt to second and after a pitch that got passed catcher Jay Curtis bounced right back to him, a miscommunication led to the ball slipping past Pletka on the throw back from Curtis and the runner came home.

Top 4: (4-1 Flyers)
Jared Howell led off the inning with a double down the left field line. Marcos Pujols advanced Howell to third with a ground out to second and Tate Hagan brought him home with a sacrifice fly to right field.

Bottom 4: (4-3 Flyers)
Bryant opened the inning with a walk and designated hitter Alex Lane homered to right to cut the lead to 4-3.

Top 9: (5-3 Flyers)
Cleary put a one-out single into right field and was followed with a single by Ricciardi, moving Cleary to third. Blackwell then put down a bunt on a safety squeeze play, scoring Cleary and giving the Flyers an insurance run.

Key Stats:
Alex Brickman: 2-4, 1 HR, 2 RBI
Mariano Ricciardi: 4-5, 1 run
Jay Curtis: 2-3
Justin Longbrake: 2.1 IP, 0 hits, 4 strikeouts

Up Next:
The Flyers will finish off the weekend Sunday morning with a 10 a.m. matchup against UNCW.