DAYTON - The University of Dayton softball team is taking the four-hour trip over to the Steel City Friday ahead of its doubleheader at Pitt this weekend. The Flyers and Panthers are scheduled to play two at Pitt's Vartabedian Field beginning at 1 p.m. April 25 and admission is free.

SCHEDULE
Game One: 1 p.m.  Live Stats | ACCNX
Game Two: 3:30 p.m.  Live Stats | ACCNX

ABOUT DAYTON
Dayton (21-19) opened a five-game non-conference stretch on Tuesday at Butler, falling to the Bulldogs, 7-6, after a seventh-inning rally by BU. On offense, junior Deirdre Flaherty is swinging at a .386 clip with a team-high 33 RBI and nine doubles with junior Kirnan Bailey (.369) leads the team with 48 hits, 35 runs scored and 38 stolen bases (1st NCAA). Bailey's 0.95 stolen bases per game ranks second nationally. In the circle, senior Izzy Kemp (14-6) carries the team's low ERA of 2.04 (29th NCAA) with 233 strikeouts (3rd NCAA) over 130.1 innings of work. Her 12.5 strikeouts per seven innings ranks second nationally.

SCOUTING PITT
Pitt (22-24) is also on a conference bye this weekend after dropping three ACC games at Louisville last week. The Panthers got back in the win column on Tuesday, getting past the Robert Morris Colonials, 5-2, in Moon Township. K.K. Esparza holds the team's best batting average of .336 with 36 RBI and eight home runs while Tieley Vaughn (.326) leads the Pitt offense with 45 hits and 43 runs scored. Kyra Pittman (7-7) leads the Panthers' pitching corps with a 4.49 ERA and Gwen Sparks (6-5) has collected the team's most strikeouts at 74.

LAST TIME OUT
Dayton opened the week at Butler on Wednesday, falling behind, 4-0, in the first inning. The Flyers rallied and were able to pull even with the Bulldogs, 5-5, in the fourth but eventually dropped the 7-6 decision to the home team.

RPI RANKINGS
In the NCAA's most recent Rating Percentage Index (RPI) through games on April 23, Dayton ranked 205 according to NCAA.com. Pitt was ranked 98.

UP NEXT
Dayton will continue its five-game non-conference stint next week with two games at home Tuesday and Wednesday. The Flyers will host the RedHawks of Miami (Ohio) April 28 at 4 p.m. followed by a 3 p.m. matchup against Akron on April 29. Both games will be played at UD Softball Stadium and admission is free.

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