DAYTON – The University of Dayton baseball team fell on Saturday afternoon 6-4 to VCU at Woerner Field at AES Ohio Stadium. Junior Mark Manfredi had another quality start for the Flyers, starting the game and going six innings and allowing just one earned run on three hits in the loss.
 
The Flyers fall to 18-21, 6-8 in conference play with the loss, while VCU improves to 24-17 and 9-5 against A-10 opponents. Dayton took a 4-0 lead into the seventh inning, but the Rams scored six unanswered runs in the final three frames to take a 6-4 win.
 
Graduate student Henry Strmecki led the way with three hits for the Flyers, picking up an RBI and a run scored. Senior Jake Silverstein and Keagan Calero each also picked up a pair of hits in the loss.
 
ON THE MOUND
Manfredi pitched into the seventh inning for the Flyers, keeping VCU at bay for his time on the mound. He faced just four over the minimum through the first six innings and struck out four Rams. Sophomore Eli Majick entered next for the Flyers, going the next 1.2 innings, allowing two earned on three hits and striking out three Rams.
 
Graduate student Nick Meyer finished the game for the Flyers, going the final 1.1 innings, allowing one unearned runs and striking out two.
 
SCORING PLAYS
Bottom 3: (2-0 Flyers)
Strmecki started the inning with a bunt single. He scored on a double from senior Jay Curtis to put the Flyers on the board. Curtis would advance to third on a groundout and score on an error by VCU to put Dayton up 2-0.
 
Bottom 4: (4-0 Flyers)
Silverstein led off the fourth with a double to left field and advanced to third on a dropped third strike that junior Omar Daniels reached on. Calero reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to second on a throwing error, scoring Silverstein and extended the lead to three. Calero would move to third on a ground out to second and score on a base hit by Strmecki.
 
Top 7: (4-3 Flyers)
VCU opened the seventh with a leadoff home run. A hit by pitch brought Majick into the game and an error by Curtis put two on with nobody out. A fielder's choice saw runners on the corners and a hit by pitch loaded the bases. Majick struck out the next VCU hitter, but a double to left field plated two Rams and cut Dayton's lead to one.
 
Top 8: (5-4 Rams)
A one-out single up the middle and a stolen base put a runner on second. A home run gave VCU a 5-4 lead in the eighth.
 
Top 9: (6-4 Rams)
Meyer retired the first batter of the inning, but a base hit followed by a stolen base and a throwing error on the steal put a runner on third with two outs. A double by the Rams finalized the score at 6-4.
 
UP NEXT
The Flyers will finish the three-game series with VCU on Sunday at noon at Woerner Field at AES Ohio Stadium.