DAYTON, Ohio – Junior Ian Hundley hit a two-out, bases-loaded walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning to give University of Dayton baseball a 2-1 win over UMass and complete a three-game sweep on Senior Day weekend.
The win on the last home game of the season moves the Flyers (25-27, 14-7 A-10) into second place in the Atlantic 10 Conference standings with one three-game series remaining at La Salle next weekend. UMass (19-20, 11-10 A-10) falls below .500 after entering the weekend tied for fourth place in the A-10 standings with UD.
Dayton was held hitless through five innings against UMass starter Joe Popielarczyk (5-1), who suffered his first loss of the season. But the Flyers chipped away with five hits spread out through the fifth and ninth innings, including a leadoff double in the bottom of the ninth from designated hitter Joe Gayda.
Spencer Rohr, pinch running for Gayda, advanced to third on a fly-out to centerfield by senior Brian Blasik for the first out of the ninth. Rohr then scored the game-tying run as senior C.J. Gillman registered his ninth sacrifice fly of the season, also to centerfield, which forced extra innings for the second time of the weekend series.
Senior right-handed pitcher Burny Mitchem (4-7) retired the side in the top of the 10th to finish a shutout relief appearance lasting 3 1/3 innings, allowing just two hits and striking out four.
Senior Zach Stewart led off the bottom of the 10th with a single through the right side and was advanced into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt from junior Jared Broughton. Sophomore Robby Sunderman would single to put runners at the corners. With two outs the Minutemen intentionally walked senior Bobby Glover, the A-10 hits leader, to load the bases.
That brought up Hundley, who pinch hit for Rohr. After taking a first-pitch strike, Hundley singled to left-center field to bring home Stewart – the game winning run.
Mitchem earned his second win of the weekend to cap off an impressive day on the mound for the Flyers. Starting pitcher Parker Schrage threw 6 2/3 innings and struck out four while allowing just two hits and one run.
UMass’ Popielarczyk faced the first two batters in the 10th, including the game-winning run, to receive the loss. Popielarczyk finished his 9 1/3 innings with two runs allowed and three strikeouts to see his conference-leading ERA creep up to 1.36.
Saturday's 2-1 win was Dayton’s fourth walk-off victory of the season at Time Warner Cable Stadium.
The Flyers will hit the road for mid-week game at Ohio on Tuesday at 6 p.m. ET. Next weekend the Flyers conclude conference play in a three-game series at La Salle in Philadelphia.
