The University of Dayton baseball team was unable to overcome an early four run deficit, and was defeated by the University of Toledo 6-1 on Tuesday, March 12, at Woerner Field.
The Rockets jumped out to a hot start on the cold afternoon, scoring four runs in the top of the first inning off of UD redshirt junior starting pitcher Joe Wahl. UT got it done with key hitting, scoring their four runs on five hits.
Following the first inning, Wahl settled in, finishing the day with five and a third innings pitched with four runs, all earned, on eight hits, five strikeouts and no walks.
The Flyers offense also took a while to settle in as UT junior starting pitcher Cameron Palmer and sophomore relief pitcher Alex Schmenk held UD without a hit until the fourth inning when UD redshirt freshman designated hitter Kevin Colburn singled.
The score remained at 4-0 until the bottom of the eighth when the Flyers finally got on the board following a single from junior outfielder Mark Podlas, who advanced to third on back to back wild pitches from Toledo, and scored on an RBI single from freshman pinch hitter Aaron Huesman.
The Rockets would go on to add two more runs in the ninth on a senior infielder Matt Delewski RBI single, followed up by a wild pitch later in that inning that would score him as well.
In all, the Flyers were held to just one run on five hits, while striking out 11 times, and drawing no walks. Wahl was credited with the loss.
Meanwhile the Rockets finished the game with six runs on 10 hits, and only struck out six times, while drawing two walks. Schmenk was credited with the win. The victory put UT at 5-9 on the season, while UD fell to 3-9-1.
The Flyers will be back in action this weekend when they host the Flyer Classic against the University of Buffalo and Oakland University at Woerner Field. The Flyers will play Buffalo on Friday, March 15, at 3 p.m., Oakland on Saturday, March 16, at 11 a.m. and a double header against both teams on Sunday, March 17, at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
