Despite struggling in the series opener, the Dayton baseball team defeated Saint Joseph’s in the final two contests to claim the series behind impressive starting pitching.
The Hawks (14-25, 5-10 Atlantic 10) jumped out to an early lead in the opener on Friday, breaking a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fourth to drive in five runs, resulting in an 8-4 victory.
Both teams were unable to break out at the start of the game. However, Saint Joseph’s Brett Tiagwad broke the ice in the bottom of the fourth with a single to right field, followed by two Hawks hits to load the bases.
Saint Joseph’s managed to score all three runners, as well as plating two more in the inning, to take a 5-0 lead. In spite of the Hawks’ large lead, the Flyers (23-18, 8-4 A-10) came right back in the top of the fifth and closed most of the gap, making the score 5-4.
The comeback wasn’t enough for Dayton, however, as the Hawks scored three more times, with one run coming in the sixth and two more in the eight, pushing their lead to 8-4.
Saint Joseph’s confidence was boosted again early in Saturday’s game, when Tiagwad scored to put the Hawks first on the board in the bottom of the third.
Dayton pulled through with the help of senior Jimmy Roesinger, tying up the score in the top of the seventh. The Flyers then added two insurance runs in the eighth, cementing their lead at 3-1.
Both teams went into the final game with one win under their belt in the series.
Dayton pitcher Mike Hauschild threw eight scoreless innings Sunday to help the Flyers to a 6-1 win.
Dayton initially held an early lead, scoring once in the second and again in the fourth inning and driving in two runs in both the sixth and the seventh. The Hawks scored once in the ninth off junior pitcher Tim Bury but couldn’t overcome the deficit, as the Flyers claimed the series.
LSU pushes past GW
La Salle swept George Washington in a three-game series over the weekend, beginning Thursday afternoon with a 7-6 victory.
The lead came early when the Explorers drove in two runs in the bottom of the first and tacked on another in the second. As the game progressed, the offensive onslaught was scattered as La Salle scored one in the sixth and once in the seventh and added two more in the eighth.
GW put themselves on the board in the top of the fifth with a run and plated two more in the sixth.
La Salle held a 7-3 lead going into the ninth. The Colonials came storming back, though, tallying three runs before falling short in a 7-6 affair.
In Game 2 of the series Friday, the Explorers’ Jon Gyles took home the victory with a three-run walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth, breaking a 2-2 tie.
In the series finale on Saturday, the Colonials dropped another game to La Salle in a 9-7 loss.
For the first time all series, GW began by taking the lead early on in the top of the first, scoring two runs. Its lead was short-lived, however, as La Salle came right back, driving in three runs in the bottom of the second.
The Colonials refused to fall into a hole, scoring two more runs in the top of the third to reclaim the lead at 4-3..
GW maintained the lead at 7-5 heading into the eighth. However, La Salle rallied and drove in four runs to earn the victory and clinch the series.
Big week for the Bonnies
St. Bonaventure’s Billy Urban was awarded the Atlantic 10 Conference Baseball Player of the Week, while the Bonnies’ Eddie Gray was named the Pitcher of the Week. Charlotte’s Tyler Barnette was named Rookie of the Week.
Urban helped lead the Bonnies to a three-game sweep this weekend over Saint Louis. He scored the game-winning run in the second game of the series in a 3-2 victory over the Billikens.
Gray, meanwhile, has pitched 56 innings with 42 strikeouts. Barnette is 5-1 on the season with a 1.37 ERA.
Amy Chaunt can be reached at [email protected].
