April 23, 2008

Box Score

DOVER, DE- The La Salle Explorers (18-22, 6-10 A-10) jumped all over the Delaware State Hornets (22-18, 7-2 MEAC) spraying 22 hits, including a homer by senior Michelle Sullivan to win both games with identical 7-5 scores on Wednesday afternoon.

Laura Beth McCreesh started off game one with two-run single to right field to give La Salle a 2-0 lead early. Sullivan and junior Kelli Curcio each had RBI singles in the third inning to push the lead to 4-0.

The Hornets had a three-run home run in the bottom of the third to stay on the Explorers' heels 4-3, but Sullivan and freshman Laura Gallagher singled in one RBI each and McCreesh doubled another score to take a 7-4 advantage.

DSU rallied in the seventh inning with a two-run single with two outs, but that was all the Hornets could manage as La Salle took a 7-5 victory.

Pitcher Gina Massaro took the win and improved to 6-11.

La Salle started the second game with three consecutive singles by Massaro, freshman Ali Shepherd, and sophomore Mary Pat Conville to load the bases and Sullivan had an inside the park grand slam to take a 4-0 tally.

Shepherd had an RBI single in the second, and pinch-runner Kelli Surdi scored on an error by the DSU center fielder to take a 6-0 lead.

The Hornets struck back in the bottom of the inning with an RBI double and a run on a La Salle error to close the gap and then another RBI double in the third would make it 6-3.

DSU continued to rally in the sixth with a two-run double, but La Salle's Gallagher hit a sacrifice fly to score one more at 7-5.

Freshman pitcher DJ Guinn took the win, her second of the season in 5.2 innings of work and Massaro came in relief.

The Explorers host Manhattan College tomorrow, April 24th at 3:00 PM for a doubleheader, played at Rutgers-Camden.