April 21, 2007

Box Score

AMHERST, MA - In a similar game as played the day before, the La Salle University Baseball team allowed three unearned runs which directly resulted in the loss, a 4-1 defeat to Massachusetts, Saturday, in the second of a three-game Atlantic 10 series at Earl Lorden Field.

On Friday, the Explorers' pitching staff scattered just four hits, but errors allowed six unearned runs to score in a 6-5 loss. Saturday, La Salle committed just one error but that led to three unearned runs, while La Salle pitchers allowed just three hits.

The Explorers opened the scoring in the third inning, taking the 1-0 advantage on a John Rickards RBI triple, which scored Rich Prall. That was an unearned run for UMass, as Prall reached base after striking out.

Massachusetts (11-16, 6-8 A-10) tied the game up in the bottom of the frame with its first and only earned run of the series - through the first two games. Bill Rankin doubled to start the inning, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt, and scored on Cody Kauffman's RBI groundout.

The Minutemen then took the lead for good in the fourth, as Brian Baudinet's two-out two-RBI double plated Bryan Garrity and Rankin, to put them up 4-1.

That was all the run support that Jim Cassidy would need, as he went 7 2/3 innings allowing just the one unearned run and striking out five batters. He improved to 4-1 with the victory, while Aaron Smith notched his fifth save with 1 1/3 innings of relief.

Kenny Elkind took the loss for La Salle and is now 1-5, despite throwing seven innings, striking out five and allowing just three hits. Dennis Burge pitched a scoreless eighth for the Explorers and has now thrown 15 2/3 innings of scoreless relief. In those seven games, he has struck out nine batters, while walking two.

La Salle (13-20, 5-9 A-10) will finish the three-game set at Massachusetts with a game Sunday starting at 12 PM.