March 11, 2007

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA - After falling behind by six runs early, the La Salle University Baseball team answered by scoring five runs in the last four innings, but it was not enough to end the Explorers four-game losing streak, as they succumbed to Iona, 6-5.

Already leading 1-0, the Gaels batted around in the top of the fifth inning and plated four runs. They benefited from two hit batsmen sandwiched around a walk to load the bases with just one out.

Kevin McGovern, who knocked in the run in the third inning, drove in another with a single through the left side of the infield to plate the second Iona run of the game.

La Salle starter Dan Waters (2-2) then struck out the next batter, his third of the game, but allowed another RBI single to Paul Salerno and Nick Capowski drove in another on a fielder's choice.

Dennis Burge came in to relieve Waters, allowed a run on a wild pitch, but then got the final out of the inning with a ground ball. Burge went the final 4.1 innings allowing just a solo home run to Allie Abbatiello in the sixth inning. He retired the last 10 batters he faced, striking out four batters including two in the ninth.

Meanwhile, Iona starter Marty Hand (2-2) was cruising through the first five innings, as he allowed just three hits and struck out four as no Explorer base runner ever touched third base.

Down 6-0 though, the Explorers started their rally in the bottom of the sixth. Davis Hewett hit a two-out single, then scored on TJ Chism's RBI double to break up the shutout.

They chased Hand in the seventh, as they loaded the bases with one out. Brian Meagher singled, followed by back-to-back singles by John Malloy and Billy Kern forcing the Gaels into their bullpen.

Southpaw Kevin Carmody was summoned to pitch to the left-handed hitting Rich Prall, and the result was a deep ball to right-center field - a sacrifice fly - to cut the deficit to 6-2.

In the eighth, Chism was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and was followed by a Justin Handler single, and Iona (3-8) went the pen again. The runners moved up a base on a passed ball on Shawn Walsh's first pitch, and Chism scored when RJ Hollinshead singled back up the middle.

After a strikeout, Meagher drew a walk to load the bases again for the Explorers with just one gone. What could have been the key hit, Malloy singled past a diving Abbatiello - playing first - but the ball hit Meagher, which resulted in no runs scored and an out. Walsh got out of the inning with a pop-up.

In the ninth, Hewett hit a solo home run to pull La Salle to within a pair of runs at 6-4, and then with two outs, the game got even more interesting.

Handler grounded straight back to Walsh, but his throw to first bounced and Handler ended up on third base. John Vincent singled to center to make it a one-run game, but Walsh got the final out of the inning on a grounder to second to end the contest.

La Salle (5-8) will try to end the current slide when they host Villanova, Tuesday at Hank DeVincent Field, starting at 3 PM.