DAYTON, Ohio – The Saint Joseph's baseball team split a doubleheader at Dayton on Saturday, dropping the first game, 16-9, before taking the nightcap by a 7-5 score.

GAME 1: Dayton 16, Saint Joseph's 9

HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Hawks took the lead out of the gate on a sacrifice fly by Ryan Cesarini in the top of the first, but the Flyers tallied four in the bottom half to take a 4-1 lead.

• Max Hitman hit a three-run double in the second before Cesarini beat out an infield single to drive in another run to make it a 5-4 game in favor of SJU.

• Dayton (18-29 overall, 10-7 Atlantic 10) got three of them back in the bottom of the frame before adding another in the fifth to extend its lead to 8-5.

• Cesarini struck again in the top of the seventh, driving in two with a double before scoring on a passed ball to tie the game at 8-8.

• Unfortunately for the Crimson and Gray, UD sent 13 batters to the plate in the home half of the eighth to open a big lead.  Nate Thomas added an RBI single in the top of the ninth, but that would be all.

BEHIND THE BOX SCORE
• Andrew Zapka was credited with the win after a scoreless third of an inning, while Mike Falco took the loss.

• Neither starter figured into the decision; Will McCausland allowed eight runs in five innings for the Hawks, while Mark Manfredi gave up five in five frames.

• Cesarini led the way for the Hawks at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a run scored and four runs batted in.  Hitman scored twice and drove in three as well.

GAME 2: Saint Joseph's 7, Dayton 5

HOW IT HAPPENED
• Saint Joseph's (21-20-1 overall, 11-6 Atlantic 10) took the lead in the first inning again, and again it was Cesarini, singling home Brett Callahan with the game's first run.

• The Hawks extended the lead to 3-0 in the second on a two-run home run by Travis Rinker.

• Dayton got on the board on a groundout in the second, but Callahan ripped a two-run shot of his own in the top of the fifth to push the lead to 5-1.

• The Flyers hung singletons on the board in the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings to get back within a run, but Luke Zimmerman hit a two-run home run in the eighth to add some breathing room for the Hawks.

• Dayton would plate a run and load the bases with one out, but Cole Stetzar got the final two outs to secure the win.

BEHIND THE BOX SCORE
• Ryan DeSanto allowed two runs – one of them earned – and two hits while striking out seven in five innings to earn the win.  Eli Majick allowed five runs on 10 hits in five innings to take the loss.  Matt McShane tossed two innings in the game to bridge the gap to Stetzar, who notched his fifth save of the season.

• Five different Hawks recorded two hits apiece, with Callahan and Rinker each scoring twice in the contest.

UP NEXT
The teams will play the rubber game of the weekend series on Sunday.  First pitch is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.