June 5, 2009

DAYTON, Ohio - With the 2009 baseball season in the rearview mirror, the University of Dayton baseball squad looks back on a record-breaking season including the program's first-ever Atlantic 10 regular season crown.

Head coach Tony Vittorio guided the team to a program-best 38 wins in 2009. His mentoring also helped the Flyers become just the second Atlantic 10 team to win more than 20 conference games in a season, finishing with 21. Vittorio also earned his 500th career win when the Red and Blue rallied for a 5-3 win in the Bronx against Fordham.

The Brown Street Bombers used heavy artillery this season smacking a record 77 home runs this season, six more than previous record set in 1993. The UD offense led by hitting coach Brian Harrison broke a number of other hitting records including batting average (.332), runs scored (448), hits (665), RBI (419) and doubles (143).

Todd Linklater, associate head coach of the Flyers, helped mentor a young pitching staff to a new school record of 370 strikeouts. He worked with Cameron Hobson, a southpaw freshman, to earn Rookie of the Year honors from the A-10.

Catcher Scott Dunwoody was named to the Johnny Bench Award official watch list. Dunwoody hit .333, but his actions behind the plate spoke much louder. "Woody" guided a young pitching staff to a record amount of wins, while backstopping Hobson to his previously mentioned award.

Several names marked a spot in the record books for the Flyers. Jacob Spaeth broke the hit by pitch record after being hit 21 times this season. Spaeth also entered the record books in fifth with 58 runs scored in '09.

Zach Jacob climbed to second in the record books with 79 hits on the year. Cole Tyrell ranked fourth in program history with 60 RBI and Aaron Dunsmore also ranked fourth with 6 triples this season.

Hobson surged to the top of the charts this Spring fanning 83 batters. His 16 walks were the fifth-fewest in program history for a single-season. Quinn Haselhorst finished fifth recording a career-high eight wins for Dayton, while closer Sean Finn third with seven saves.

A number of seniors quietly moved up the record books for their career totals as well. Haselhorst became the second most-winning pitcher in UD history notching 19. Haselhorst also started a record 50 games for the Flyers. He also ranks second with 317.1 innings tossed over the last four years.

Spaeth is fourth in school history with 39 career hit by pitch. Finn's seven saves is the fourth-most in program history.