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Xavier hands UD season-ending defeat

Top-seeded Flyers drop two consecutive games in A-10 tournament.

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By Greg Billing, Staff Writer Updated 11:16 PM Friday, May 22, 2009

DAYTON — A familiar rival, albeit in a different sport, put an end to the University of Dayton baseball team’s record-breaking season on Friday, May 22.

In a must-win game to reach today’s championship, UD suffered an 11-3 loss to Xavier at Fifth Third Field. That, coupled with a 9-2 loss to Rhode Island earlier Friday, eliminated the top-seeded Flyers from the Atlantic 10 Conference tournament.

Dayton jumped out to an early 2-0 lead against Xavier. The Musketeers, playing their third straight elimination game and second of the day, rallied to score 10 of their 11 runs with two outs.

No. 3 Xavier plays No. 2 Rhode Island at noon today for the A-10 title. A second game, if necessary, follows at 3:30.

The loss capped a campaign that saw UD win its first regular-season A-10 title and set numerous records — including a school-record 38 wins — with a prolific offense. But when they needed it most, the big hits didn’t come.

Dayton managed 10 hits against Xavier but also stranded eight runners.

“We did something no Dayton team had done before. That’s something we can hang our hat on and be proud of,” said UD catcher Scott Dunwoody.

“Obviously it’s not the way we wanted to go out by any means, but it’s still a season that will be in the record books.”

Xavier broke the game open in the seventh with five singles, a walk and a hit batter all with two outs. The five-run outburst put the Musketeers up 10-2.

“I’m really proud, especially of our seniors. We started a tradition at the University of Dayton with our first league championship,” UD coach Tony Vittorio said. “They’ve been awesome and I really appreciate what they’ve done.”

Atlantic 10 tourney

Friday’s Results

Rhode Island 9, Dayton 2

Xavier 6, Massachusetts 3

Xavier 11, Dayton 3

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Beating Dayton: A Xavier Tradition

The Xavier Musketeers will have a reason to watch the NCAA baseball selection show...while the Flyers will spend the day wondering what might have been.

LET'S GO X! LET'S GO X! LET'S GO X!

Binnie Huelstiff
3:02 PM, 5/25/2009

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Congrats to the Flyers for a successful season and to the A-10 for holding the tourney at wonderful 5th-3rd Field.

And most of all to Xavier Muskateers. Like their hoops-playing buddies, the Muskies beat the Flyers in Dayton about half of the time while the last Flyer win in Cincinnati occurred over 30 years ago. If the Flyers could improve their winning percentage, this would become a nice rivalry.

Muskateers rule!

xman
2:16 AM, 5/23/2009

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Congrats to Coach V, his staff and the team on a great season.

Steve
10:41 PM, 5/22/2009

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