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DAYTON — Just in case, Dragons manager Donnie Scott had a bus at Fifth Third Field on Saturday night, Sept. 6, ready to whisk his team to Grand Rapids, Mich., had the West Michigan Whitecaps defeated South Bend in the Midwest League playoffs.

But South Bend won 3-2, so Round 2 of the playoffs begins tonight at Fifth Third Field when Dayton hosts the Silver Hawks, who ran away with the second-half championship in the Eastern Division.

Scott said he didn't care who the Dragons play, although a 4 p.m. game at West Michigan wouldn't be appealing following a nighttime bus ride.

"Both (South Bend and West Michigan) have good pitching, no question about that," Scott said. "And they've been very consistent on offense. It comes down to who makes the least amount of mistakes."

Pitching and hitting have been strong points for the Dragons, too, especially since 19-year-old Neftali Soto joined the team from rookie Billings, Mont.

"Nobody knew about Soto at the beginning," Dayton third baseman Brandon Waring said. "He was new. He helped, and then everybody else began to hit. Logan Parker was hitting when Neftali got here, and then Zack Cozart and Michael McKennon."

In fact, the whole Dayton lineup perked up, including Waring, who finished the season with 20 homers and 71 RBIs to lead the team in both categories.

In two playoff games (the Dragons eliminated Lansing in the first round), Soto is 4-for-9 (.444) and has three RBIs, while Cozart and second baseman Jake Kahaulelio each have two RBIs.

In two games, the Dragons have allowed only two earned runs. Scott expects it to stay this way.

"I'm expecting nail-biters the rest of the way," he said. "I don't expect any team to win big."

South Bend at Dragons

When: 7 p.m. today

Tickets: $10.25-$14.25, about 50 left; lawn seats $8. Call (937) 228-2287.

Rest of series: Monday and Tuesday, if necessary, at South Bend

Radio: WING-AM (1410)

South Bend — First half: 33-36 (4th), second half: 43-27 (4th), overall: 76-63 (2nd)

Dayton — First half: 28-40 (6th), second half: 38-32 (2nd), overall: 66-72 (11th)

South Bend hitting (regular season): .249 (9th); pitching: 3.49 ERA (5th)

Dayton hitting: .255 (6th);

pitching: 4.19 (14th)

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2157 or mkatz@DaytonDailyNews.com.