Saturday, April 28, 2001

FLYERS TAKE SERIES FROM BASEBALL TEAM WITH SPLIT OF HIGH-DRAMA DOUBLEHEADER

DAYTON, OH – The Stuart Field fans were treated to an exceptional college baseball doubleheader Saturday afternoon. The University of Dayton baseball team split their Atlantic 10 series finale with St. Joseph's University. The Hawks took the first game, outlasting UD, 5-4, in extra innings while the Flyers escaped with a 1-0 pitchers' duel in the nightcap. With the split, the Flyers improved to 25-21, 10-6 A-10, while the Hawks move to 20-20-1, 7-6 A-10.

The first game saw the Flyers take a 1-0 lead in the first inning, then jump ahead again, 4-3, with a three-run home run to centerfield by senior Clint Beasley in the fifth. It was after the Hawks posted the equalizer in the sixth with an RBI single from Pace Bradshaw, that the game got interesting.

A bench-clearing scuffle in the bottom of the sixth between Bradshaw and UD's senior CF Mark Schulte resulted in the ejection of both players. The altercation started after Schulte was involved in a run-down between second and third and collided with Bradshaw.

Then an inning later, Hawks' skipper Jim Ertel was tossed by first base umpire Mike Mann for arguing a call. The game moved to extra innings and in the top of the ninth, Kevin Dougher led-off with a single off the leg of pitcher Sam Fischer. Dougher, who entered the game after starting CF Rich Caloiero was pinch-hit for, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, then to third on a wild pitch. Justin Godusky plated Dougher for the eventual game-winner as he singled to left field. Mike Minerva came on to close out the extra-inning victory as he put the Flyers down in order to earn his first save.

Starter Eric Wyatt (4-2) earned the win by throwing eight strong innings, scattering seven hits with six strikeouts. Fischer (1-2) was pinned the loss after allowing 10 hits and five runs (four earned). He fanned eight against four walks. Although it was a hard to top the excitement of the first game, starting pitchers Mike Rolih and Doug Sieger squared-off in a spectacular battle. Both hurled complete-games as the two combined to yield just seven hits and one unearned run.

The game's lone run was scored after senior Brooks Vogel reached on a two-out error in the infield and advanced to third on the errant throw by SS Chris McLaughlin. Junior Mark Wahl (Dale, IN) made the error pay, driving in Vogel in with a single to right field. Rolih, who leads the team in victories (7-5), went the distance for the fifth time this season. He gave up just four hits and two walks with two stikeouts. Sieger, although holding the Flyers to just three hits, was tagged the loss. He fanned seven Flyers and allowed just one walk.

A pair of Hawk career milestones were achieved during the twinbill. Kevin Kirkby slapped a base hit, giving him 241 for his career and tying Bill Weingartner's (1992-95) school record. Also Mike DeVincentis stepped to the plate for the 720th time as a Hawk, also breaking the previous record held by Weingartner. The Hawks currently have no games scheduled for this week due to final exams. They return to action on Saturday against Duquesne in Pittsburgh, Pa.

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