Written by: Zack West

The Lady Zips softball team dropped two games to the University of Dayton Sunday afternoon 3-1 and 2-1.

The Flyers got off to a fast start when they scored all three of their runs in the bottom of the first in game one.  The Zips were held hitless until the top of the fifth, when Allison Dorr singled but was stranded at second to end the inning.

Zip Alex Helfrich scored in the top of the sixth off of a single by Alissa Birkhimer.  The Zips failed to score again going down in order in the top of the seventh. Birkhimer led the Zips from the plate going 1-3 with an RBI and earning one of the three hits allowed by the Flyers.

Brittany Mauer was credited with the loss from the circle.

In game two, the Flyers jumped to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first.  Neither team would score until the fifth inning, when the Zips posted three hits in one inning to tie the game 1-1.

Zip Kellie Roudabush doubled with two outs and scored when Taryn Allmon doubled to left, producing the tying run.

One inning later, the Flyers posted their own three-hit-inning and scored a run in the bottom of the sixth, making the score 2-1.

In the top of the seventh, the Zips attempted a comeback rally. To lead off the inning, Birkhimer singled and Amanda Ricker pinch ran for her. Ricker was then forced out at second for the second out of the inning, while Dorr reached second on a throwing error. With the tying run on second, Roudabush grounded out to third to end the inning.

The Zips will travel home to take on the Youngstown State Penguins this Tuesday for a doubleheader at Lee R. Jackson Softball Field in their home opener. Game one of the series starts at 3 p.m.