DAYTON - The University of Dayton softball team is headed west on Friday ahead of its three-game Atlantic 10 series at Saint Louis this weekend. The Flyers and Billikens will kick off a Saturday doubleheader at 1 p.m. ET/12 p.m. CT April 18 at the Billiken Sports Center followed by a single game Sunday, also beginning at 1 p.m. ET/12 p.m. CT.

SCHEDULE
Saturday, April 18  1 p.m.  Live Stats | ESPN+
Saturday, April 18  3:30 p.m.  Live Stats | ESPN+
Sunday, April 19  1 p.m.  Live Stats | Billikens All-Access

ABOUT DAYTON
Dayton (20-16, 10-8 A-10) enters this weekend's series in second place in A-10 standings after taking its fifth-consecutive conference series win last week over visiting St. Bonaventure. The Flyers' offense is led by junior Deirdre Flaherty with a .379 average and 30 RBI while junior Kirnan Bailey (.356) has 42 hits, 31 runs and a program single-season record-tying 34 stolen bases (2nd NCAA). Bailey's 0.94 stolen bases per game leads the nation and her 0.971 stolen base percentage ranks sixth nationally. Senior right-handed pitcher Izzy Kemp (13-4) carries the team's low ERA of 1.79 (26th NCAA) with a program single-season record 214 strikeouts (2nd NCAA) over 121.0 inning pitched. Her 12.4 strikeouts per seven innings ranks third nationally.

SCOUTING SAINT LOUIS
Saint Louis (18-23, 9-9 A-10) dropped a 6-1 decision against Eastern Illinois at home on Thursday, went 1-2 at George Mason last weekend and are currently in a tie for fifth place in league standings. SLU's top offensive threat is Abby Ulsas (.323) who has tallied 41 hits - including 10 doubles - and 28 runs while Abby Mallo has a team-best 24 RBI and 40 walks. In the circle, Anna Christ (6-8) leads the Saint Louis pitching corps with a 2.33 ERA over 96.1 innings of work and Isabel Royle (7-8) has collected a team-best 60 strikeouts.

LAST TIME OUT
On Sunday, Dayton held off a seventh-inning rally by St. Bonaventure, scoring the winning run in the bottom of the seventh to take a 6-5 victory over the Bonnies. Dayton claimed the 2-1 series win after splitting the pair's doubleheader Saturday with a 4-2 loss and a 2-1 win.

RPI RANKINGS
In the NCAA's most recent Rating Percentage Index (RPI) through games on April 16, Dayton ranked 198 according to NCAA.com. Saint Louis was ranked 213.

UP NEXT
Dayton will step out of conference action next with three games against non-Atlantic 10 opponents. On Wednesday, Dayton is set to take on Butler in the Circle City at 3 p.m. at Butler Softball Field.

FOLLOW #UDSB
Follow the Flyers on X/Twitter: @FlyerSoftball, Facebook: Dayton Flyers Softball and Instagram daytonflyers