DAYTON - The University of Dayton softball team is heading to Richmond, Ky., to take part in Eastern Kentucky's annual Colonel Classic Feb. 28-March 2. UD is schedules to play a total of five games against Akron, UIC and host EKU at Gertrude Hood Field.

Dayton will open the weekend with a 4 p.m. matchup against Akron on Friday followed by games against UIC at 10 a.m. and Akron at 12:30 p.m. Saturday. On Sunday, UD will square off against UIC at 10:30 a.m. and close out the weekend against EKU at 3:30 p.m.

All five games will be available to follow via live stats and Sunday's game against host EKU will also be video streamed via ESPN+. CLICK HERE for complete schedule information.

ABOUT DAYTON
Dayton (5-4) is coming off a 1-3 weekend at the I-75 Challenge hosted by Georgia State, Georgia Tech and Kennesaw State. Freshman Addy Justice leads the team with a .471 average on eight hits in 17 at bats while senior Emma Schutter (.419) has recorded a team-best 13 hits, including five for extra bases, to go with nine runs scored, nine RBI and five stolen bases. Junior Izzy Kemp (2-1) leads the Dayton pitching corps with a 1.44 ERA and 32 strikeouts over 24.1 innings of work.

FLYER FACTS
• Cara Clark is in her 18th season as head coach of the Flyers in 2025. Her record at Dayton is 418-429-2 (.494) and Clark's career win-loss mark sits at 549-555-2 (.497) over a total of 24 seasons. She has tallied the program's most wins and holds the all-time best winning percentage (.494) at Dayton.
• Dayton has won the Atlantic 10 Regular Season title two times (2024, 2015) and the Flyers have captured the A-10 Championship title once (2024).
• The Flyers finished the 2024 season with a 33-21 overall record and a 19-7 conference mark, finishing in first place in regular-season play.
• Top returners: Kirnan Bailey (So., IF), Maddie Kapsimalis (Sr., IF), Emma Schutter (Sr., OF), Chloe Wong (Sr., IF) and pitchers Haven Dwyer (Sr.) and Izzy Kemp (Jr.).

LAST TIME OUT
In last weekend's I-75 Challenge, Dayton posted a 1-3 mark in doubleheaders at Georgia State and Georgia Tech. UD's Saturday game scheduled against Memphis at Kennesaw State was cancelled due to electrical issues at the stadium. The Flyers' weekend-opening win at GSU was highlighted by junior Izzy Kemp's career-high-tying 12 strikeouts and senior Emma Schutter's perfect 4-for-4 day at the plate.

RPI RANKINGS
In the NCAA's final Rating Percentage Index (RPI) of the 2024 season, Dayton ranked 122nd according to NCAA.com. Akron came in at 205th, UIC was ranked 241st and host Eastern Kentucky was 59th.

UP NEXT
Dayton is set to open the home portion of its 2025 schedule next week with a a single game against Miami (Ohio) March 5. Wednesday's game against the RedHawks is a rematch of the pair's May 18, 2024 NCAA Regional game when Miami downed Dayton, 4-0, eliminating the Flyers from national postseason play. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. at UD Softball Stadium and admission is free.

2025 ATLANTIC 10 PRESEASON POLL
Dayton softball has been chosen to repeat as Atlantic 10 Champions in 2025 as announced by the conference office Feb. 4. The preseason poll was voted on by the 10 league coaches. The Flyers received 98 points in the poll with nine first-place votes. Dayton, which went 33-21 overall and 19-7 in the conference, won the regular season title and the Flyers' first conference championship title last season. Under 2024 A-10 Coach of the Year Cara Clark, the Flyers return First Team All-Conference players infielder Maddie Kapsimalis, infielder Kirnan Bailey, pitcher Haven Dwyer and 2024 Defensive Player of the Year and Second Team All-Conference selection outfielder Emma Schutter.

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