March 20, 2008

Box Score

KISSIMMEE, Fla. - The University of Dayton Flyers extended their winning streak to six with a 5-4 thriller over the Colgate Red Raiders at the Rebel Games on Wednesday. With the win, the Flyers have been victorious in nine of their last ten games played including carrying a 7-1 record through the Rebel Games.

Molly Meyer's 3-for-4 hitting in the leadoff spot put the Flyers in ripe opportunities all afternoon.

"Molly's ability to get on base was really important in our success today," coach Cara Clark said. "Her consistency gave us a real spark on offense."

Meyer was joined by Blair Crabtree who went 2-for-3 and had one RBI as well as Anne Maci who was 2-for-2 and had one RBI.

The top of the order continues to pound it out on offense, with all three of them (Molly Meyer, Mollie Schrank and Laura Matthews) hitting .340 or better this season and have a combined batting average of .416.

The throwing tandem of Erin Lafayette and Eva Rappe helped propel the Flyers to their sixth straight. LaFayette pitched the first six innings sitting four batters down and allowing only three runs. Rappe stepped in the top of the seventh to close out a win for UD.

"Eva coming in and securing the win was huge for us," said Clark. "She and Erin did a great job in there today."

With Lafayette's win, she has matched her previous career-best of five wins in a season and is 10 strikeouts away from the mark she set last year.

The Red Raiders got off to an early 2-0 start in the top of the first after Nicole Siedhof hit a one out, two run blast to give Colgate the early advantage.

Dayton brought their own offensive arsenal to the table in the first pounding in a run on a shot down the left field line by Crabtree.

In the third, Maci brought Crabtree home on smack down the right field line. The Flyers did not let up, driving in another in the fifth at the hands of Laura Matthews.

With a 3-2 margin over the Red Raiders heading into the six, the Colgate softball squad had to make something happen. With two on and one out, the Raiders drove in the game-tying run on a ground out to double by Calla Yee.

In dramatic fashion the Flyers answered the bell in the bottom of the sixth knocking two runs in. LaFayette stole second to put the go-ahead run in scoring position when Meyer knocked in the first run of the inning on a base hit to right field. Mollie Schrank then brought Meyer home on another single, this time to centerfield giving UD the 5-3 advantage heading into the final frame.

Colgate tried their best to get into the game, Amanda Eccleston's single to right centerfield drove Siedhof home. The Flyers found themselves in a jam with runners in scoring position and Maddy Shufelt at the bat. Rappe and company decided to take their chances by loading the bases on an intentional walk.

Colgate brought in Jessica Sabo to pinch hit with the bases loaded, but Rappe and the Flyers forced the final out at third base to put their sixth straight win in the books.

Rappe picked up the save in the win over the Red Raiders.

With the win the Dayton moves to 11-8 on the season and have collected a team record four saves, three of them at the hands of Rappe.

UD travels to Charlotte to start league play on Saturday with a pair of games scheduled for a 3:00 p.m. opening pitch. For all of the latest Flyer news and statistics visit the home of the Flyers at www.DaytonFlyers.com.