Collier’s Three-Run Home Run Leads Dayton Past Cedar Rapids 5-3

Cedar Rapids, IA - Trailing by a run in the top of the ninth inning, Cam Collier crushed a three-run home run out to left-center field to lift the Dragons past the Kernels 5-3.

After dropping back-to-back games in the series, Dayton got on the board first in the top of the first inning. After a walk to begin the contest, Sal Stewart reached on a fielder’s choice, moved to second on a base hit and scored on a Ruben Ibarra single to give the Dragons an early 1-0 lead.

The Kernels came back to tie the game in the bottom of the second. Rubel Cespedes singled to begin the inning, and three batters later scored on an Agustin Ruiz RBI double to tie the game at 1-1.

That stayed the score until the bottom of the sixth inning. To lead off the frame, Ricardo Olivar crushed his first home run in a Kernels uniform, a solo shot out to right, to give the Kernels their first lead of the game at 2-1.

In the top of the seventh, the Dragons answered right back. With one out, Stewart took ball four and two batters later came around to score on a Hector Rodriguez RBI double to tie the game again, this time at 2-2.

In the back half of the seventh, the Kernels again took the lead on one swing. To lead off the inning, Willie Joe Garry Jr. cranked his first homer of the year to jump Cedar Rapids on top 3-2.

That remained the score until the top of the ninth inning. Back-to-back singles by Ethan O’Donnell and Stewart opened the frame, then Cam Collier smashed a go-ahead three-run opposite-field home run to put the Dragons ahead 5-3, the score that would be the final.

Cedar Rapids threatened with the tying run at the plate in the bottom of the ninth, but Luis Mey slammed the door for Dayton, giving the Dragons their second win in the series. With the series now tied 2-2, game five of the set is tomorrow at 1:05, with Christian MacLeod on the mound opposite Jared Lyons.