Dayton got on the board first, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning primarily because the Gamecocks did not do a great job defensively. That lead was short-lived, though, as the home team tied the game in the bottom of the inning on a two-out solo shot from Wes Clarke.
USC tacked on a couple of insurance runs in the next inning. David Mendham led things off with a base hit, then Braylen Wimmer came through with a two-run homer to atone for his defensive issues in the first inning and make it a 3-1 game.