In the bottom of the ninth, Dayton’s Carson Rudd entered the game to try to earn the save. Fort Wayne’s Corey Rosier reached to start the inning on a ground ball to second base, with Rosier hustling down the line to beat the throw. But Rudd retired the next three hitters including back-to-back strikeouts to end the game and preserve the win for the Dragons.
Dayton starting pitcher Connor Phillips was dominant over six shutout innings, notching 10 strikeouts without giving up a walk. Featuring a fastball that consistently reached 98 mph, Phillips allowed only three hits. Myles Gayman (1-0) replaced Phillips to start the seventh and worked two innings, allowing only one base runner on a walk. Rudd earned his second save as the Dragons improved to 7-0 in one-run games and 10-0 in games decided by two runs or less.
Dayton finished with just five hits in the game. Allan Cerda reached base safely in all four plate appearances with a single and three walks.
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