DAYTON – The University of Dayton baseball team fell 4-3 on Sunday afternoon to North Dakota State at Woerner Field at AES Ohio Stadium.
 
The Flyers had the tying run on first in the bottom of the ninth inning, but failed to bring him home. Graduate student Alex Brickman and senior Riley Tirotta both homered in the loss. Dayton falls to 3-10 despite outhitting the Bison, but four UD errors led to NDSU taking the win.
 
ON THE MOUND
Junior Dylan Keller started the game for UD, going five innings, allowing four runs, two earned, on three hits. Keller struck out six in his effort on the mound, keeping Dayton in the game.
 
Graduate student R.J. Wagner made his first appearance of 2021 when he entered in the sixth, pitching a scoreless inning while picking up his first strikeout of the season. Senior Jonathan Brus did not allow a hit in the seventh, striking out two in his scoreless inning.
 
Senior Andrew Zapka finished the game for the Flyers, going 2.0 innings, allowing just one baserunner and striking out two in his scoreless appearance.
 
SCORING PLAYS
Top 1: (1-0 Bison)
Keller struck out the first two batters he faced in the game before a two-out double put a runner in scoring position. The next batter grounded one to junior Marcos Pujols and Keller could not handle the toss to first base, allowing the runner to score.
 
Bottom 2: (1-1 Tie)
Tirotta came up with one out in the bottom of the second and hit a laser down the left field line that stayed fair for his second home run of the season and tied the game at one.
 
Top 3: (2-1 Bison)
After getting the first hitter of the inning to ground out to junior Benjamin Blackwell, Keller hit the next batter, who stole second and scored on a single to right field.
 
Top 5: (4-1 Bison)
A groundout to Tirotta opened the inning before a walk put a runner on first. Keller looked to have the runner caught on a pickoff to first, but the throw from Pujols sailed by Blackwell allowing him to advance to second. A walk followed by a fly out to right field advanced the runner to third and a stolen base put two in scoring position. A single through the right side of the infield scored both runners, making it 4-1.
 
Bottom 6: (4-2 Bison)
Brickman's second home run of the season was a no-doubter down the left field line, starting a comeback for the Flyers and cutting the lead to two.
 
Bottom 7: (4-3 Bison)
After the first two Flyers were retired, senior Jared Howell entered as a pinch hitter and reached on a dropped third strike. Senior Michael Cleary pinch ran for Howell and advanced to second on a pickoff attempt that went past the first baseman. Senior Mariano Ricciardi drove him home with a ball that skipped over the shortstop and gave the game its final score of 4-3.
 
 
UP NEXT:
The Flyers will take Monday off before returning Tuesday for the series finale with North Dakota State. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.