DAYTON - The University of Dayton baseball team hosts its annual Vs. Cancer game on Tuesday, April 9 when they welcome Akron to the Gem City for a midweek matchup at Woerner Field at AES Ohio Stadium, beginning at 3 p.m.
Tuesday's game will be streamed on ESPN+ with veteran broadcaster Alex Mikos on play-by-play and former Marietta College standout Zach Boyd serving as analyst.
#FLYBOYS VS. CANCER
The FlyBoys have teamed up with Vs. Cancer, a signature fundraising campaign of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, to give children affected a healthier future.
WATSON NAMED A-10 PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Graduate student
Nolan Watson was named Atlantic 10 Player of the Week on Monday, April 8, after helping the Flyers to a 2-1 weekend at St. Bonaventure.
Watson slashed .545/1.273/.643 for the weekend, hitting two doubles and two homers, scoring eight runs, and driving in seven more.
The catcher started all three games behind the plate for the Flyers this weekend, including both games of a Sunday doubleheader. Watson had hits in all three games, including his second career two-homer game.
OFFENSIVE OUTBURST
The FlyBoys had a productive weekend at the plate at St. Bonaventure, scoring 34 total runs, hitting .395 as a team, and reaching base at a .466 clip. It was the most runs scored in a three-game series for UD this season, and included the Flyers' most lopsided win (17-3) of the season.
THE FANTASTIC CONNOR FENNELL
Freshman right-hander
Connor Fennell turned in his third consecutive quality start thanks to a seven-inning performance at St. Bonaventure on Sunday. Fennell pitched into the eighth and allowing just two runs while scattering nine hits and striking out six. UD is now 5-1 on the season when Fennell makes the start.
HE'S BAAAAACK!
Graduate student
Keagan Calero returned to his usual form this weekend, hitting .500 (7-for-14) and reaching at a .533 clip out of the leadoff spot.
YAMIN STAYS HOT
First baseman
Eddie Yamin IV continued his hot streak of late, hitting a cool .500 (21-of-42) over the last 10 games with two home runs, five doubles, 16 runs scored, and eight RBI. The West Sand Lake, N.Y. is tied for the team lead team in home runs now with six on the season.
FAST AND FURIOUS
The FlyBoys are currently 18th in the NCAA when it comes to stolen bases as a team, swiping 68 bases on the season. Junior
David Pedanou leads the way with 17 steals (in 19 chances) on the season, while
David Mendez is a perfect 11-for-11. In total, 14 Flyers have registered at least one steal on the season, while five have stolen five-or-more.
WISS WINS AGAIN
Senior
Nick Wissman secured his sixth win of the season in game one of the St. Bonaventure series, tying him for the A-10 lead for wins this season.
WINNING THE WEEKEND
Dayton has won six of eight series and tied another this season, defeating Lindenwood, High Point, South Dakota State, Eastern Illinois, Fordham and St. Bonaventure so far this year and splitting a four-game series at Butler. In those 23 games, the FlyBoys are slashing .312/.491/.433 as a team and averaging 8.8 runs per game.
Dayton's lone series loss on the season was to then No. 1-Wake Forest.
BACK TO DAYAIR
The FlyBoys return to DayAir Ballpark for a midweek matchup with Eastern Kentucky Tuesday, April 23. UD has set a new attendance record each of the last two seasons when moving its home field to downtown Dayton, beating Ohio State in 2022 in front of 3,859, and taking down cross-town rival Wright State last season in front of 6,743.
SCOUTING THE ZIPS
Akron comes into the day with a record of 6-24 after winning the finale of its non-conference series with Western Carolina last weekend. The Zips are just 1-11 in Mid-American Conference action this season.
Akron has struggled at the plate this season, hitting just .225 as a team with an on-base average of .319. The Zips have yet to show much power thus far on the season, hitting just 13 home runs as a team. Max Bowman is the only Zip with a batting average over .300, turning in a .308 mark in 29 starts.
As a team, Akron has a 7.25 ERA on the season, striking out 194 batters while walking 130. Opponents are hitting .319 against the Zips this season.
UP NEXT
The #FlyBoys welcome George Mason to Woerner Field at AES Ohio Stadium for an Atlantic 10 showdown this weekend.
