Cubs Edge Dragons 3-2 in Second Half Opener

South Bend 3, Dragons 2
                                                
South Bend (R-H-E): 3-9-0
Dayton (R-H-E): 2-5-0
Win: Ricky Tyler Thomas (3-5)
Loss: Andrew Jordan (1-3)
Save: Brian Glowicki (12)
HR: Dayton: Malik Collymore (1st, 0 on base in seventh inning).
HR: South Bend: Brandon Hughes (3rd, 0 on base in fifth inning).
Dayton, Ohio-South Bend starting pitcher Ricky Tyler Thomas struck out 11 batters over six and two-thirds innings as the Cubs edged the Dayton Dragons 3-2 on Thursday night. The game, played before a crowd of 8,204 at Fifth Third Field, was the Second Half opener for both clubs.
South Bend built a 3-0 lead, scoring single runs in the first, fourth, and fifth innings. The Dragons started back in the bottom of the fifth, getting back-to-back doubles from Mark Kolozsvary and Malik Collymore to make it 3-1. Then in the seventh, Collymore launched a long home run to left field to make it 3-2.
But the Dragons could not score over the final two innings. They were retired in order in the eighth and got a lead-off walk to Leandro Santana in the ninth, but a double play ball ended the threat.
Dragons starting pitcher Andrew Jordan (1-3) took the loss. He worked seven innings, allowing three runs on seven hits with one walk and three strikeouts. His seven-inning start matched the longest of the year by a Dayton pitcher.

Connor Bennett made his Dragons debut in relief of Jordan and battled through two scoreless innings, striking out three. He pitched out of a tough bases-loaded jam in the top of the ninth to keep the Dragons within a run.
The Dragons finished with just five hits. Collymore, in his first game of the year with the Dragons, went 2 for 3 with a home run and a run-scoring double.
Up Next: The Dragons host the Cubs again on Friday at 7:07 p.m. Hunter Greene (1-5, 5.53) will start for the Dragons against South Bend's Jesus Camargo (2-2, 2.50).
Game Broadcast: Dragons games on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday will be televised on Dayton's CW (Channel 26; Spectrum Cable Channels 13 and 1013). All Dragons games are broadcast on radio on Fox Sports 980 WONE and on the internet at wone.com. Games are also available on the Dayton Dragons mobile app.
For Dragons 2018 ticket information, call (937) 228-2287.