Rain Threatens A-10 Series Opener Between Dayton, Fordham

DAYTON, Ohio (Interstat) — The Dayton Flyers look to build on their winning record as they host the Fordham Rams in an Atlantic 10 conference series opener Saturday at Woerner Field, though forecasts call for a wet afternoon and evening.

First pitch is scheduled for the afternoon, but persistent rain at 74 degrees could impact play. The teams opened their three-game series Friday, with Dayton winning 1-0.

Dayton (15-12) holds a narrow edge over Fordham (13-14) in the standings. The Flyers are coming off a tough 12-inning, 9-8 loss at Davidson on March 29, despite a strong performance from catcher Ryan MacDougall, who went 2 for 5 with two home runs and three RBIs. MacDougall is a key bat, having also homered in a 14-12 win over VCU on March 22.

Fordham arrives after a dramatic 9-8 victory over Columbia on Tuesday. Rams right fielder Joey Donnelly powered that win, going 3 for 4 with a home run and three RBIs. Donnelly has been hot, collecting hits in seven of his last ten games, including two homers.

Pitching matchups were not announced. The Flyers’ recent series at Davidson was an offensive rollercoaster, featuring a 20-4 win and the 9-8, 12-inning defeat. Fordham’s season has seen similar extremes, including a 26-3 rout of Davidson and a 20-0 loss to Saint Joseph’s.

Statistical projections offer a split verdict. Interstat’s game simulator predicts a 6-3 Fordham victory, while its ELO rating system gives Dayton a 59.4% probability to win.

The series continues Sunday at Woerner Field before both teams embark on midweek non-conference games. Dayton travels to Toledo on April 8, while Fordham hosts Manhattan on April 7.