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Kasi Vazquez had a walk-off home run in Dayton's 2-1 win over Fordham |
Game 1 Box |
Game 2 Box
DAYTON, Ohio – Sophomore Kasi Vazquez hit a walk-off home run as the University of Dayton softball team (20-27, 7-8 A-10) split with the second place Fordham Rams (30-20, 14-2 A-10) on Friday in a doubleheader at UD Softball Stadium. Dayton won the first game 2-1, and fell 11-0 in five innings in game two.
Vazquez was 2-for-5 for the day with one RBI after her game-winning home run. Freshman Natalie Mariano was 3-for-5 in the doubleheader. Redshirt freshman Jordan Jennings was 1-for-4 and also had a solo home run.
Sophomore Kayla English (10-9) was 1-1 against the Rams. English pitched 8.2 innings combined, striking out seven and walking one. Sophomore Alysha Isaacson and senior Sarah Wedel saw relief work in game two.
In game one, English battled Fordham’s Jen Mineau, who entered the weekend ranked second in the nation with 324 strikeouts. English had six strikeouts and allowed one walk while pitching a complete game in the first game.
In the top of the third inning, Fordham attempted to put up the first run of the game as Jamie LaBovick tried to score on a sacrifice fly. However, an excellent throw by junior Leah Sitter, reached home in time for Vazquez to make the play at the plate and end the inning with the game still scoreless.
Senior Megan Barrett racked up the first hit for Dayton on a leadoff bunt to start the bottom of the third inning. Barrett threatened after being sacrificed to second, but Mineau struck out the next two batters to retire the side.
UD and Fordham battled through four-and-a-half scoreless innings before Jennings hit a solo home run over the left field wall to put Dayton ahead 1-0.
Dayton threatened again in the sixth inning with runners on the corners and one out, but Mineau worked out of a jam once more, striking out the remainder of the side.
A solo home run by Elise Fortier in the top of the seventh knotted the game at one apiece.
Leadoff hitter Kasi Vazquez dealt the final blow to the Rams, smacking a walk-off home run to earn a 2-1 win over Fordham.
The Flyers were unable to complete the sweep in game two. Fordham scored seven runs in the top of the fifth inning as UD fell 11-0 in five innings. Mariano was 2-for-2 in the game.
Dayton will honor its five seniors, Megan Barrett, Brandy Brown, Courtney Kutsulis, Lauren Nacke and Sarah Wedel prior to Sunday’s Noon doubleheader against the La Salle Explorers. Sunday’s game will also be the final home games for the Flyers in 2012.