NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt grabbed a lead in the middle innings Tuesday night at Hawkins Field but fell 8-5 to Dayton after the Flyers put together a seven-run eighth inning rally.
The Dores struck first in the bottom of the fourth, scoring three runs with three doubles. Alan Espinal lined a one-out double down third base line and RJ Austin battled back from an 0-2 count to work a walk. Davis Diaz then doubled to the gap in left-center to score Espinal.
Calvin Hewett followed with a double to center field that plated both Austin and Diaz to make it 3-0, Vanderbilt.
Dayton entered the scoring column with a solo homer in the top of the fifth off the bat of Alejandro Cazorla.
Vandy starting pitcher JD Thompson exited with two outs in the fifth inning. Thompson matched his career high in strikeouts with six and held Dayton to one run on three hits.
Vandy extended its lead in the sixth.
After an Austin walk, Diaz recorded his third hit on the night with another double to put runners on second and third with one out. A wild pitch allowed both runners to move up with Austin touching home to put Vandy back in front by three at 4-1. With two outs in the inning, another wild pitch brought Diaz home as the Dores took a 5-1 lead into the seventh.
Dayton put seven runs on the board in the top of the eighth. The Flyers started the inning with a single and three consecutive walks. Vandy got two quick outs with the bases loaded but the Flyers tacked on six more runs in the frame on three hits, including a pair of doubles, to take an 8-5 lead.
Vanderbilt brought the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the ninth but were held scoreless to fall to 2-2 on the season.
The Commodores are back at Hawkins Field at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday against Eastern Kentucky.
