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MWL Dayton Dragons

Collier Blasts 2 Home Runs But Dragons Fall in 10 Innings, 7-6

April 18, 2024 - Midwest League (MWL)
Dayton Dragons News Release


Dayton, Ohio - The Fort Wayne TinCaps overcame a huge night by Dayton's Cam Collier, scoring one run in the 10th inning to defeat the Dragons 7-6 on Thursday night.

A crowd of 7,586 was in attendance at Day Air Ballpark in the heart of the Water Street District.

Fort Wayne broke a 6-6 tie with single run in the top of the 10th before Dayton nearly tied the game in the bottom of the inning. With Logan Tanner at second base and two outs, Dayton's Hector Rodriguez lined a single to right field, but as Tanner tried to score, Fort Wayne outfielder Kai Murphy fired a strike to the plate and Tanner was tagged out to end the game.

The Dragons came from behind to tie the game four times including the final time in the bottom of the ninth inning. The Dragons recorded a team season-high 15 hits including four by first baseman Ruben Ibarra. But the star of the night for Dayton was Collier, who hit a pair of two-run home runs and drove in four runs to take over Midwest League leadership in both homers and RBI.

Fort Wayne took their first lead of the series in the top of the first inning on a two-run home run by Griffin Doersching, but the Dragons immediately responded with two runs of their own. Sal Stewart lined a double to center field with one out and Collier followed with a line drive home run to right field to tie the game at 2-2. Collier's home run was his fourth of the season.

Fort Wayne regained the lead in the fourth inning on a solo home run by Doersching, his second homer of the night. The TinCaps added another run in the top of the fifth to take a 4-2 lead.

The Dragons responded in the bottom of the fifth. After Stewart walked with two outs, Collier homered to right field again, his second of the night and fifth of the season, to tie the game at 4-4.

After Fort Wayne picked up one run in the top of the sixth, the Dragons again tied the game in the bottom of the same inning. Victor Acosta reached on a bunt single, went to second on a wild pitch, and scored on a double off the right field fence by Hector Rodriguez to make it 5-5.

Fort Wayne scored one run in the top of the ninth, but the Dragons again tied the game on three consecutive singles by Collier, Ibarra, and Carlos Jorge to make it 6-6, setting up the deciding 10th inning.

The Dragons 15-hit attack was led by Collier, who went 3 for 5 with two home runs, four runs batted in, and three runs scored. Ibarra was 4 for 5, collecting the first 4-hit night of the year for a Dayton player. Rodriguez had three hits to raise his batting average to .356. Jorge and Victor Acosta each had two hits.

The Dragons most effective pitcher was the third hurler of the night, Joseph Menefee, who retired all seven batters he faced including four on strikeouts and did not allow a ball to leave the infield.

Up Next: The Dragons (6-6) host Fort Wayne (5-6) in the fourth game of the series on Friday night at 7:05 pm at Day Air Ballpark. Rhett Lowder (0-0, 1.00) will start for Dayton against Fort Wayne's Henry Baez (0-0, 0.00). For ticket information, go to daytondragons.com/tickets or call (937) 228-2287.

On the Air: All Dragons home and road games are broadcast on radio on FOX Sports 980 AM WONE. Games can be heard on smart phones, iPads, and other mobile devices via the free Dragons Mobile App, or on a computer at wone.com. Games are also available on HD Radio on 104.7 WTUI HD 2.

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Midwest League Stories from April 18, 2024


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