Amherts, MA - Despite taking a 2-0 lead in the third inning the Explorers dropped a 4-2 decision to the University of Massachusetts Minutemen today, Friday, May 20th in the first game of a doubleheader. The loss puts the play-offs one game out of reach for La Salle.

La Salle junior Mike Essery (Havertown, PA/Cardinal O'Hara) got things started for his team in the third inning as he singled to left center and then stole second base and eventually reached third on a passed ball. Senior Ryan Parfitt (Flourtown, PA/La Salle) then singled through the left side to score Essery and give the Explorers a 1-0 lead.

La Salle sophomore Rich Prall (Doylestown, PA/Central Bucks West) kept the bats going and moved Parfitt to second. Parfitt would score the final run of the game for La Salle off a string of errors by the Minutemen giving La Salle a 2-0 lead heading into the bottom of the third.

The Minutemen answered right back and tallied four of their seven hits in the bottom of the third inning when they scored all four of their runs, one of which was unearned. Neither team did much the rest of the game and the Minutemen held on to hand La Salle the 4-2 loss and swipe any hopes of going to the Atlantic 10 Championships away.

Sophomore Dan Waters (Wyndmoor, PA/La Salle) started on the mound for the Explorers. He pitched two innings before freshman Craig Mushko (Northampton, PA/Northampton) and sophomore Gerard Breslin (Havertown, PA/Haverford) came in at relief.

Massachusetts will host the Explorers in the second game of the doubleheader today and finish the series tomorrow with a 12:00 p.m. nine inning game.