MIDLAND, Mich. (Interstat) — The Dayton Dragons broke open a tight game with a four-run seventh inning to defeat the Great Lakes Loons 8-1 in the first game of a doubleheader Friday at Dow Diamond.

The Loons took a 1-0 lead in the first on Nico Perez’s RBI single, but Dayton responded with three runs in the fourth. Carlos Sanchez and Ryan McCrystal delivered key hits in the frame. The Dragons added a run in the sixth and put the game away in the seventh, aided by a Great Lakes error.

Dayton’s Luke Hayden earned the win, while Stephen Quigley recorded a save. Sterling Patick took the loss for Great Lakes. The Dragons improved to 5-6, while the Loons fell to 8-4. The game, which lasted 2 hours and 28 minutes, was a seven-inning contest.