DAYTON - The University of Dayton baseball team returns to the friendly confines of Woerner Field at AES Ohio Stadium this week, starting with a Wednesday matinee against in-state foe Toledo, scheduled to begin at 3 p.m.

MENDEZ NAMED A-10 ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
- Freshman David Mendez had a tremendous week for the Flyers as he worked his way into the starting lineup, hitting .625 with an on-base percentage of .769 for the week. The Aldie, Va. native reached base five times via hit, five times via walk or hit-by-pitch, scored five times, and drove in four, while also going 2-for-2 in steals.
- The freshman is hitting .583 in seven games played on the young season, turning in an OPS of 1.570. Mendez hit his first career home run against No. 1 Wake Forest last week and has walked more than he's struck out (4 / 1).

OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION
- The Dayton offense scored 30 runs in its three-game series with High Point this weekend, including a season-high 13 runs on a season-best 17 hits in Sunday's thrilling series finale.
- In total, the FlyBoys hit .336 and reached base at a .449 clip for the series, hitting five home runs, five doubles and stealing five bases.

ISN'T IT GRAND?
- Dayton's 10-2 victory over High Point in game two of the series saw the Flyers put up its most runs (to that point) in the season while only getting eight hits from the offense. Eight of the #FlyBoys runs came on two swings, one from senior Carlos Castillo and another from sophomore Eddie Yamin IV. 
- It marked the first time since at least 2005 that the Flyers hit two grand slams in the same game. It was the first grand slam of Castillo's career, while Yamin hit one as a freshman in 2023 against St. Bonaventure on May 11.

WELCOME BACK CARLOS
- Senior Carlos Castillo announced his return to the lineup with authority against High Point, hitting .563 (9-for-16) with two doubles, a home run, six RBI and four runs scored. The Hialeah, Fla. native had multiple hits in each of Dayton's games against the Panthers, helping lead the offense to its best showing of the young season, scoring 30 runs in the series win over HPU.
- Castillo had a three-hit performance in game two, launching his first career grand slam in the process. He came back to go 4-for-6 in the series-clinching win with two doubles and two runs scored. 

EVERYDAY EDDIE
- After playing the bulk of his freshman season in an outfield/designated hitter role, sophomore Eddie Yamin IV has started and played every game at first base for the #FlyBoys this season. The West Sand Lake, N.Y. native has committed just one error on the campaign at the new position.
- Yamin had a great weekend at the plate as well, hitting .333 and slugging .833, smacking his first two home runs of the season in the series. The sophomore has now hit one grand slam in each of his collegiate seasons.

WISSMAN SLAMS THE DOOR (AGAIN)
- Senior closer Nick Wissman picked up his A-10-leading third save of the season in Dayton's 10-2 win over High Point this weekend. Wissman entered the game with one out in the seventh and the FlyBoys holding a 5-2 advantage. The righty tossed the final 2.2 inning, and was the beneficiary of a comfortable lead in the finish thanks to a five-run ninth by UD.
- Wissman is 1-0 on the season to go along with his three saves, making six appearances and throwing a team-leading 12.1 innings.

SCOUTING THE ROCKETS
- Toledo comes to the Gem City with a 4-7 record through the first three weeks of the season, most recently coming off a 1-3 trip to SEMO. The Rockets won the finale of the trip, 10-9, hitting four home runs and holding off a late Redhawks rally.
- UT's offense is led by Brayden White, who has a .367 average in eight games this season. Scott Mackiewicz and Owen Jackson lead the Rockets in homers with two apiece, while Garret Pike leads the team in runs scored with six.
- The pitching staff has turned in an ERA of 6.62 this season, with reliever Jacob Tabor leading the way with a 2.25 ERA in eight innings of work. Wednesday's starter, Matt LeLito, has a 16.20 ERA on the season.As a staff, the Rockets have struck out 94 and walked just 52, while opponents have hit .283 against them.

UP NEXT
The Flyers continue their home stand with a four-game series against South Dakota State, slated to start Friday, March 8 at 12 p.m.