MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The University of Dayton baseball team took on West Virginia in a non-conference doubleheader Sunday afternoon at Monongalia County Ballpark. The Flyers lost the first seven-inning game 7-6 and then fell 12-6 in the seven-inning nightcap.

In game one, the Flyers got on the board first in the top of the fourth, but the Mountaineers answered with five runs in the bottom of the inning. West Virginia tacked on two more runs, one each in the bottom of the fifth and sixth. Dayton rallied in the seventh to pull within one run. Chris Cabrera and Benjamin Blackwell led the Flyers with two hits each and an RBI apiece.

In the next game, UD, again led off the scoring, leading 2-0 after the top of the second. The Mountaineers answered with three runs in the bottom of the second. Dayton regained the lead in the third, 4-3, but WVU went off for nine runs (two in the fourth, three in the fifth, and four in the sixth). Mariano Ricciardi led UD with 2 RBI and Riley Tirotta was 2-for-4 at the plate with a double. The Flyers used nine pitchers in the second game.
 
UD's seven-game winning streak was snapped and the Flyers are now 18-25 overall. WVU improves to 22-23 overall and is on a five-game winning streak.
 
GAME ONE
ON THE MOUND
Hunter Wolfe earned the start. He allowed two hits, no runs and struck out two in 2.0 innings of work. R.J. Wagner (0-2) went 1.2 innings, allowing two hits and four runs, and was pinned with the loss. Jonathan Brus faced one batter. Bryce Hellgeth went .2 innings, with three hits and one run. Parker Bard went 1.0 inning with one hit and one run. Austin Brush threw one pitch and it closed out the bottom of the sixth with a 543 ground out double play.
 
SCORING PLAYS
Top 4: (1-0 Flyers)
Marcos Pujols singled to center field and Riley Tirotta had an infield hit. Following a double steal, Alex Brickman's chopper up the middle plated Pujols to break the scoreless tie.
 
Bottom 4: (5-1 Mountaineers)
The inning started with Alec Burns getting hit by a pitch and Nathan Blasick getting walked. Following a double steal, Tyler Doanes hit into a fielder's choice that scored Burns.  Austin Davis singled to right field to score two more Mountaineer runs. McIntosh doubled to right center to score two more runs. The Flyers used three pitchers in the inning.
 
Bottom 5: (6-1 Mountaineers)
Doanes hit a single through the left side to pick up another RBI.

Bottom 6: (7-1 Mountaineers)
Pinch hitter Braden Barry doubled to center field to start the inning, then he advanced to third on a wild pitch. A Paul McIntosh sacrifice fly scored Barry.

Top 7: (7-6 Mountaineers)
The Flyers rallied in the seventh. With one out, Eddie Pursinger was walked, pinch hitter Mitchell Garrity was hit by a pitch, Michael Cleary walked, Mario Ricciardi walked with the bases loaded to score Pursinger. Benjamin Blackwell lined a single right over the pitcher to score Garrity. Two more runs scored on a Pujols ball put into play to the first baseman. Cabrera singled to left center to score Blackwell and get within 7-6. Brickman drew a walk to load the bases with two outs. Pursinger, who started the rally, struck out swinging to end the inning and the game.
 
GAME TWO
ON THE MOUND
Ben Olson earned the start and went 1.2 innings with three earned runs and struck out one. Anthony Hattrup (1-2) pitchd 1.1 innings, allowed three hits and two earned runs. He was saddled with the loss. Ben Petschke, Justin Longbrake, Jonathan Brus, Nick Wissman, Eli Majick, Cole Pletka, and Jake Silverstein also made trips to the mound.

SCORING PLAYS
Top 2: (2-0 Flyers)
Following three Flyers earning walks (Chris Cabrera, Alex Brickman, Chase Melnick), Mariano Ricciardi hit a two-out single up the middle to score two runs.

Bottom 2: (3-2 Mountaineers)
Doanes hit a two-run double to left field. Cabrera relayed to Blackwell who threw down a runner at home to limit the damage. Doanes scored on a single by Davis.

Top 3: (4-3 Flyers)
Back-to-back singles by Riley Tirotta and Chris Cabrera, along with a batter's interference loaded up the bases. Michael Cleary was walked to score Tirotta, the game-tying run. Mitchell Garrity got an RBI, scoring Cabrera with a sacrifice fly to center field.  

Bottom 4: (5-4 Mountaineers)
Back-to-back HBPs with the bases loaded plated two Mountaineers.

Bottom 5: (8-4 Mountaineers)
WVU scored three runs; one on a sacrifice fly and a two runs on a two-out double. The Flyers threw five different pitchers in the inning.

Bottom 6: (12-4 Mountaineers)
WVU's leadoff batter William Bean walked and Nathan Blasick hit a two-run homer to right center. A double and a fielder's choice led to two more runs.

Top 7: (12-6 Mountaineers)
Keegan Sueltz earned a walk. Riley Tirotta doubled down the leftfield line. A Chris Cabrera fielder's choice scored Sueltz. Alex Brickman walked and Tirotta scored on a wild pitch. Eddie Pursinger walked to load the bases.
 
UP NEXT
Dayton will host an Atlantic 10 four-game series vs. George Washington May 20-22. The games on May 20 and May 22 will be held at Woerner Field at AES Ohio Stadium. The doubleheader on Friday, May 21 will be held at Day Air Ballpark. Tickets are $8 for adults, $5 for children, and free for UD students. Tickets can be purchased by clicking here