ST. LOUIS - Saint Louis University baseball (36-12, 15-6) secured a critical series win Sunday, defeating Dayton 8-5.

The win keeps the Billikens atop the Atlantic 10 Conference standings with a 15-6 record, while the Flyers' record sits at 14-6 with one regular-season weekend remaining.

For the third-straight game, SLU found itself in an early deficit, giving up two runs in the top of the first inning. The visiting Flyers tacked on another run in the second, taking a 3-0 lead.

Cole Smith began the comeback for the Billikens in the bottom of the inning, smacking a two-RBI home run to left center field. Easton Richter drove in the go-ahead run for Saint Louis in the ensuing inning, driving in two RBIs to give SLU its first lead of the day, 4-2.

Another RBI courtesy of Smith extended the Billikens' lead to three runs before Dayton answered scoring one of their own.

Richter and Smith each drove home another run in the fifth inning, and despite a final run from the Flyers, the Billikens took game three and the series.

On the mound, Jack Weber got the win for SLU pitching 2.2 innings. In relief, Owen Kelly struck out four batters and Evan Gray two, the latter earning the save for a crucial 2.1 innings out of the pen.

The Billikens wrap up their regular season next weekend with a three-game series at the University of Massachusetts. The first game will begin Thursday at 2 p.m. (CST).