Philadelphia, PA - A three run ninth inning was not enough as the La Salle Explorers dropped a 5-4 decision to the Richmond Spiders today, Friday, May 6th at Hank DeVincent Field. The loss drops La Salle to 17-24 overall and 8-8 in the conference while the Spiders improve to 16-25 overall and 9-7 in the conference.

Richmond took a 3-0 lead in the fifth sparked by a one run one homer out of their lead off batter Matt McKenna followed up by a double to center field out of Ben Zeskind to score both Vince Riggi and Joe White. The Spiders then added two more runs, one in the sixth and one in the eighth to build a 5-0 lead.

La Salle junior Mike Essery (Havertown, PA/Cardinal O'Hara) scored the first run for the Explorers when sophomore Rich Prall (Doylestown, PA/Central Bucks West) singled down the left field line. The Explorers then held the Spiders scoreless in the ninth and entered the bottom of the inning down 5-1.

La Salle junior George Hudock (Quakertown, PA/Quakertown) singled to left field and advanced to third when sophomore John Vincent (Glen Burnie, MD/Cardinal Gibbons) doubled to left center. Freshman John Rickards (Doylestown, PA/Central Bucks West) then knocked in both base runners when he hit a double down the right field line to make the score 5-3 with one out.

Rickards then advanced to third on a wild pitch and Essery reached after getting hit by a pitch. Rickards then scored on another wild pitch after freshman Matt Dunaway (Little Rock, AR/Central Arkansas Christian) walked to put the Explorers down just one 5-4.

With the tying run on third in Essery and the winning run on second in Dunaway senior Ryan Parfitt (Flourtown, PA/La Salle) stepped to the plate. Parfit walked and Essery tried to score on a passed ball, but instead tallied the second out of the inning. Parfitt then moved to second when Prall walked and sophomore Billy Kern (Northfield, NJ/Mainland) stepped to the plate. Kern hit a rocket to left field, but the left fielder made a diving catch the end the game.

La Salle sophomore Dan Waters (Wyndmoor, PA/La Salle) started on the mound and struck out five batters in five innings. He was relieved by freshman Dennis Burge (Doylestown, PA/Central Bucks West), senior Matt Kirsch (West Chester, PA/Archbishop Carroll) and freshman Jamie Cowan (Annandale, VA/Bishop Ireton). The appearance by Kirsch marks his 71st appearance at La Salle, he is now tied for first in career appearances with Pat Waninger (1983-87).

The Spiders and the Explorers will play a doubleheader tomorrow, Saturday, May 7th starting at 12:00 p.m. Before the start of the first game the La Salle athletic department along with Head Coach Lee Saverio will honor the five seniors who will play in their final games at Hank DeVincent Field.