May 9, 2007

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA - The La Salle University Baseball team held a 2-1 lead after four innings, but the Delaware Blue Hens scored four unanswered runs to claim their 11th straight victory, 5-3, in non-conference action at Hank DeVincent Field, Wednesday.

La Salle pitcher Kenny Elkind started the game by striking out the side in the first, despite allowing an unearned run. He went three total innings, struck out five and left the game with a 2-1 lead.

The Explorers took the advantage with two runs in the bottom of the third. Kevin Jones, who  had two of La Salle's five hits, led off the frame with a walk and one-out later, John Malloy singled to right.

Ranked fifth in the country in Hit By Pitch per game at .50, Justin Handler was hit for the 21st time this season to load the bases. He is three shy of the school's record for a single season set by Kevin Ibach (24 in 1998).

Not to be outdone, John Rickards - eighth in the country in the same category (.47) - plated La Salle's first run after being hit by his 19th pitch of the season. Rich Prall knocked in the second run with a sacrifice fly to center.

Delaware (25-18) tied the game on a Brandon Menchaca RBI single in the fifth, then took the lead with an RBI single off the bat of Ryan Engelhardt. Then, they added two insurance runs in the top of the ninth.

Blue Hen Dan Richardson picked up his second win of the season, while Matt Heppner registered the save. Five Delaware relief pitchers held La Salle scoreless for six innings, while allowing four hits. Christian Schulz took the loss for the Explorers and is now 1-2.

La Salle (16-26) returns to action this weekend with a three-game Atlantic 10 series at Xavier starting Friday at 2:30 PM.