Austin Upshaw helped South Bend beat Dayton Friday night. (Photo by Emma Reese)

SOUTH BEND – Austin Upshaw tied the game with a two run single in the sixth and Yeiler Peguero singled in the go ahead run in the seventh as the South Bend Cubs (21-26, 60-56) won their second straight over the Dayton Dragons (14-33, 55-62) 5-2 in front of a crowd of 7,039 on Friday night at Four Winds Field. Chad Hockin (W, 2-3) tossed 2 scoreless innings in relief to earn the win for the Cubs.

Dayton (14-33, 55-62) took an early lead in the top of the second. Left fielder Taylor Trammell walked to lead off the inning. After a strikeout, first baseman Bruce Yari hit a double play ball to second that was mishandled, putting runners at first and third. Second baseman John Sansone lifted a sacrifice fly to right and the Dragons had an early 1-0 lead.

The Dragons added to their lead in the top of the fourth. Centerfielder Jose Siri grounded a single through the left side. Cubs second baseman Yeiler Peguero tried to take advantage of Siri’s wide turn at first but the throw went into the stands, moving Siri over to third. Trammell than dropped a bunt down the third base line and Siri beat the throw home for a 2-0 Dayton lead.

Both starters shut down the opposing offenses into the sixth inning. Tyson Miller tossed six innings and allowed just three hits and two unearned runs for the Cubs. Scott Moss kept the Cubs off the board until the sixth inning and finished the game allowing just two runs over 5 2/3 innings.

South Bend (21-26, 60-56) struck back to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth inning. With one out, shortstop Andruw Monasterio walked. Peguero then grounded a single through the right side to put runners at first and second. After a strikeout, designated hitter Kevonte Mitchell loaded the bases with a single to right. Third baseman Austin Upshaw then lined a 2-2 pitch into center to score two runs and knock Moss from the game.

The Cubs broke open the game by scoring thrice in the bottom of the seventh inning. Moises Nova (L, 1-2) had come on in relief of Moss to finish off the sixth inning. He surrendered a leadoff single to first baseman Alberto Mineo. Mineo moved to second on a groundout and left fielder Luis Ayala was hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second with one out. Aaron Fossas came on in relief of Nova and promptly hit Monasterio with his first pitch to load the bases. Peguero gave the Cubs the lead with a ground ball single to right that scored Mineo and made the score 3-2. Following a strikeout, Mitchell reached on an error by the shortstop and Ayala scored on the play. A wild pitch allowed Monasterio to score and gave the Cubs a 5-2 lead before Fossas induced a flyout to left to end the inning.

Hockin entered in relief of Miller to start the seventh inning and threw two scoreless innings. Wyatt Short (S, 12) came in for the Cubs to pitch the ninth inning and shut down the Dragons to earn his twelfth save of the season.