BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - The University of Dayton softball team opened the 2024 Hilltopper Classic Saturday with losses to Southern Illinois and host Western Kentucky. The weather-altered weekend schedule got underway with a 9-0 (5) loss to the Salukis followed by a 2-0 loss to the Toppers.

Dayton moves to 7-4 on the season. Southern Illinois improved to 8-4 after this morning's contest and Western Kentucky enters its game against Northern Illinois with an 11-5-1 mark.

GAME ONE
Southern Illinois 9, Dayton 0 (5 inn.)
4 - graduate student Emily Daniel collected four putouts for the Flyers playing in left field
0 - junior Haven Dwyer worked 2.2 innings with zero earned runs
H - junior Emma Schutter's leadoff single to open the game extended her hitting streak to six games
Winning Pitcher: M. Groff (7-0); Losing Pitcher: Sarah Bailitz (1-2)

GAME TWO
Western Kentucky 2, Dayton 0
CG - sophomore right-handed pitcher Izzy Kemp worked her third complete game of the season, throwing 6.0 innings with four Ks
SB - Daniel tallied her eighth stolen base of the season which is tops in the Atlantic 10 Conference
3 - freshman Kirnan Bailey equaled her career high with three outfield putouts
Winning Pitcher: K. Gardner (4-2); Losing Pitcher: Kemp (4-2)

UP NEXT
Dayton will play two more tomorrow to wrap up the weekend at the WKU Hilltopper Spring Fling. At 11 a.m. ET, Dayton will take on Northern Illinois followed by a tentative 4 p.m. rematch with Southern Illinois. Both games will be played at the WKU Softball Complex in Bowling Green, Ky. CLICK HERE for more schedule information and links.

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