May 12, 2007
Box Score
CINCINNATI, OH - For the second straight game, the La Salle University Baseball team scored in the top of the eighth inning - this time a two-run home run from Rich Prall - to take a 4-3 lead. However, just like Friday, Xavier was able to escape with a 5-4 victory - this time plating the winning run in the 10th - Saturday in Atlantic 10 action at Hayden Field.
Through the games first four innings, it was a pitcher's duel, as La Salle starter Craig Muschko scattered three hits striking out three and eliminating a baserunner with a doubleplay. However, Xavier startier Charlie Leesman surreneder just one hit to Billy Kern, who leads La Salle with a .371 batting average in A-10 games only, in the span.
In the fifth, George Papuchis led off with a hit-by-pitch and was sacrificed to second by Kevin Jones. Matt Burns then drew a walk and Brian Meagher loaded the bases with a single to center. John Vincent plated the game's first run with a sac fly to center.
Xavier (23-27, 14-9 A-10) responded with a run of its own in the bottom of the frame, on an RBI single by Matt Waskerwitz, driving in Robbie Kelly.
An unearned La Salle run in the seventh - scored on a squeeze play by Meagher - was followed by a pair of runs by the Musketeers to put them up 3-2 entering the eighth inning.
In the top of the eight, Rich Prall blasted his 17th career home run, a two-run shot to right field scoring John Rickards, which gave La Salle a 4-3 lead - an advantage they also held in Friday's game.
Gerard Breslin, who entered the game in the seventh, allowed two baserunners in the bottom of the inning but got out of the jam. He was not as fortunate in the ninth, as Zac Richard hit a two-out RBI double to left-center to score the tying run.
In the Explorers' half of the 10th, Rickards led off with a single and moved to second when Justin Handler registered his third single of the afternoon with one out. But Xavier David Hartman, who improved to 2-1 with the win, ended the threat with a double play.
Two batters into the Musketeer 10th, Drew Schmidt hit a single up the middle off Kenny Elkind (1-7) to plate the winning run - Pat Coffey who doubled to lead off the inning - and give Xavier another come-from-behind victory in the series.
La Salle (16-28, 8-15 A-10) and the Musketeers will complete the three-game set, Sunday with a 12:00 PM start.
