May 26, 2012

2012 Baseball Game 1 UD-UR

BRONX, N.Y.--Second-seeded Dayton beat No. 5 Richmond 3-0 Saturday afternoon to claim the 2012 Atlantic 10 Baseball Championship at Fordham's Houlihan Park.

The Flyers (31-28), who were playing in their first A-10 championship finals, receive the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Baseball Championship. Dayton will make its first appearance in the NCAA Regional field, which will be announced Monday.

Dayton got a shutout pitching performance from starter Parker Schrage and Championship MVP Burny Mitchem. Schrage (4-6) went 6.1 innings, allowing seven hits and no runs with four strikeouts to get the win. Mitchem (7) earned the save, his second of the championship. Alex Maffett (5-3) took the loss for Richmond, allowing five hits and three runs.

Dayton scored its first run in the first inning on an RBI single by centerfielder Bobby Glover that plated designated hitter Ian Hundley. The Flyers scored again in the third on a Brian Blasik groundout that scored third baseman Robby Sunderman.  UD's final run was a double-steal in the seventh. Second baseman Jared Broughton stole home while Sunderman was taking second.

Richmond, which qualified for the championship game from the consolation bracket, finished the tournament with three wins. Overall the Spiders are 30-26.

All-Championship selection Jacob Mayers went 2-for-3 to lead Richmond at the plate. Sunderman, also an All-Championship selection, went 2-for-3 with a run scored.

ALL CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM

Championship MVP: Burny Mitchem, Dayton