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MWL1 Dayton Dragons

Dragons Rally Late, But Fall in Extras, 12-8

June 2, 2005 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Dayton Dragons News Release


Dayton, OH - Heading into the ninth inning five runs down, nobody thought the Dayton Dragons (22-31) would be able to come back on the Eastern Division leading South Bend Silver Hawks (33-21). However, the Miami Valley's team plated five runs in the home ninth, but ultimately fell short in 11 innings, by a final score of 12-8 in front of 8,397 at Fifth Third Field on Thursday night.

The Silver Hawks drew first blood in their half of the second inning, as Allen Mottram doubled to deep left-center field and came home to score when both Paul Janish and Tonys Gutierrez misplayed a routine groundball, making it 1-0 Silver Hawks. The visitors would add another on Vasquez in the third, and took a 2-0 lead into the middle innings.

South Bend starter Steve Jackson started strong, facing the minimum of Dragons batters through three innings without giving up a hit. However, in the Dragons fourth Jackson hit a roadblock - issuing a one out walk to Paul Janish followed by a two-run, game-tying homer to deep center field off the bat of Ben Himes.

The Miami Valley's team added another in the third inning as the struggles continued for Jackson. A leadoff double by Bobby Mosby paid off when Phil Gentry knocked him in with an RBI double, giving the Dragons a 3-2 advantage. After pitching 5.0 innings of four-hit baseball, Vasquez was lifted for Joe Wilson (ND). The Dragons reliever surrendered a solo shot to Mottram nodding the game up at 3-3.

Similar to Wednesday's game, the Silver Hawks were able to capitalize on some critical Dragons mistakes. In the top of the seventh inning, Wilson walked the number 9 batter Travis Gulick. After a strikeout of Emilio Bonafacio, Jereme Milons reached on a fielding error from Jeremiah Piepkorn, moving Gulick to second base. Wilson then hit Agustin Murillo with a pitch to load the bases; they didn't stay loaded for long. Javier Brito crushed a grand slam over the Dragons Lair in left field, making it 7-3 South Bend. Mottram hit his second homer in as many at-bats, adding an insurance run to make it 8-3 Silver Hawks.

With a five run cushion, Jackson was given another chance in the Dragons seventh. He would record two outs before being pulled for Hipolito Guerrero (ND). Jackson finished with 6.2 innings of work, allowing three runs on five hits while striking out six. Three different Silver Hawks pitchers would face the Dragons following Jackson's departure, all of them keeping the Miami Valley's team off the scoreboard.

With a five run lead going into the home ninth, South Bend turned to their closer Matt Elliot (ND) to seal the victory; he did everything but. Elliot walked the first three batters he faced, Bobby Mosby, John Purdom, and Drew Anderson. South Bend skipper, Mark Haley had seen enough and replaced him with Mark Rosen (ND). Rosen also walked the first batter he faced, forcing in Mosby. Janish then delivered again, smashing a bases clearing triple into the right field corner cutting the lead to 8-7. Janish would come home to tie it at 8 on a Piepkorn single up the middle, sending the game to extra innings.

South Bend's Adam Howard (W, 2-1) and Dayton's Jarred Sanders (L, 0-4) pitched scoreless tenth innings, but in the eleventh the Dragons finally cracked. After a Piepkorn fielding error led to another bases loaded situation, Mark Reynolds got his only hit of the ball game; a double that cleared the bases and put the Silver Hawks up for good by a score of 12-8.

The Dragons and Silver Hawks conclude their four game series on Friday night with a 7:00 PM first pitch at Fifth Third Field. 1410 ESPN Radio carries the game live with the pre game show beginning at 6:30 PM. LHP Philippe Valiquette (0-3, 5.34 ERA) will start for the Dragons while RHP Ross Ohlendorf (3-4, 3.78 ERA) gets the ball for South Bend in the series finale.

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