Amherst, MA - The Explorers jumped out to a 5-0 lead over the Minutemen in game two of a doubleheader today Friday, May 21st, but an eight run third inning boosted the University of Massachusetts over La Salle with a final score of 16-8.

The Explorers came on late in the first inning with two outs sophomore Rich Prall (Doylestown, PA/Central Bucks West) and junior George Huduck (Quakertown, PA/Quakertown) hit back to back doubles to score the first run of the game. Hudock then stole third base and sophomore John Vincent (Glen Burnie, MD/Cardinal Gibbons) hit his fourth homerun of the season to put La Salle up 3-0.

La Salle freshmen Fran O'Kane (Broomall, PA/Marple Newtown) and Dennis Burge (Doylestown, PA/Central Bucks West) then followed Vincent's homer up with a pair of singles and fellow freshman Derick Reis (Jim Thorpe, PA/Jim Thorpe Area) knocked a double to score Burge and put La Salle up 4-0 in the first inning.

The Minutemen then went three up, three down with junior Jarod Ringer (Schnecksville, PA/Parkland) starting on the mound for La Salle. He pitched the entire first two innings and helped the Explorers build their 5-0 lead. The fifth run of the game was scored by senior Ryan Parfitt (Flourtown, PA/La Salle) who scored off Hudock's second hit of the game, this time a single.

A couple of errors in the beginning of the bottom of the third inning by the Explorers gave Massachusetts runners in scoring position and they did just that, scoring eight third inning runs.

The Explorers bounced back in the fourth inning and added two more runs to their total as Vincent hit a double down the left field line to tally his third and fourth RBI of the game. La Salle trailed 8-7 heading into the bottom of the fourth. Massachusetts answered La Salle's two runs with two of their own and built on their lead going up 10-7 heading into the fifth. 

The fifth inning would prove to be another high scoring inning for the Minutemen as they scored five more runs and took a 15-7 lead. La Salle scored one more run in the game when Burge hit a homer in the sixth, which again Massachusetts answered with a run of their own and defeated La Salle 16-8.

The final game of the series and of the season for La Salle will begin at 12:00 p.m. tomorrow, Saturday, May 21st.