Softball Recap: Flyers Drop Three Of Five In Gaucho Classic

Claire Ely
Contributing Writer

Dayton’s softball team went 2-3 this weekend in the University of California Santa Barbara’s Gaucho Classic.

The Flyers began the weekend splitting a doubleheader against Santa Barbara Thursday evening, taking game one, defeating the Gauchos 8-5.

Even With The Cowboys

Although Santa Barbara came out strong scoring in the bottom of the first inning, Dayton answered with three runs in the top of the third with an RBI single by junior infielder Lisa Tassi and a two-run home run by freshman DH Abby Ehrenborg.

Dayton scored two more runs in the fourth inning to build a 5-1 advantage. Santa Barbara was able to tie the score at five going into the seventh inning after scoring three runs in the fifth and one in the sixth.

In the seventh, Dayton rallied with three runs and was able to hold off Santa Barbara for the victory. The Flyers overpowered Santa Barbara on the offensive end, racking up 16 hits vs. Gauchos’s nine.

Ehrenborg and senior infielder Kailee Budicin each finished with 2 RBIs, hitting a combined 5-for-9 (.555) on the day.
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The Flyers’ offensive production ceased with the conclusion of game one. UCSB scored early and often in game two, shutting out UD 8-0.

Dayton had multiple chances to score, with runners in scoring positions in the fourth and fifth innings, yet they were unable to scratch across a run. With three additional runs in the six inning, the Gauchos ran the score to end the game early.

A Dance With The Bullfighters

The Flyers also split their doubleheader against San Diego on Friday.

Dayton fell to the Toreros 3-2 in a close first game in which the teams traded runs until San Diego pulled ahead in the fifth.

Senior pitcher Manda Cash pitched all seven innings, striking out three but also walking two batters.

The Flyers were able to pull out a 3-2 victory in the second game with some late offense. San Diego scored runs in the fourth and fifth innings, but Dayton rallied for three in the sixth to secure the win.

Ehrenborg drove in the tying runs in the sixth, setting up junior catcher Kyle Davidson’s winning run off a San Diego error.
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A Lot Of Splits, But Nothing Sweet

In the Saturday finale of the tournament, the Flyers fell to San Diego 6-3. Tied 3-3 after the fourth inning, San Diego scored two runs with back-to-back sacrifice flies in the top of the fifth and an insurance run in the seventh to seal it away.

Budicin went 3-for-3 at the plate, and redshirt-junior shortstop Kayla Haberstitch drove in two runs. But their offense wasn’t enough to overcome the Toreros.

Dayton is now 4-6 on the season. They are set to travel to Lexington, Kentucky to take on the Kentucky Wildcats on March 1.

Photo Taken from daytonflyers.com