Feb. 20, 2009
Box Score
DURHAM, NC - La Salle University Baseball - behind strong pitching performances from Drew Gerhart and Christian Schulz and the bats of John Malloy and Marc Schoch - opened the 2009 baseball season with a 5-2 victory over the Duke Blue Devils, Friday afternoon at Jack Coombs Field.
Down a run after two innings, La Salle used a pair of solo home runs to take a one-run lead at 2-1. After Duke starter Chris Manno retired the first two batters in the top of the third, Malloy and TJ Chism went back-to-back. Malloy hit a 1-0 pitch down the right field line and Chism hit the next pitch also over the right field fence.
La Salle starter Gerhart would allow another Duke run in the bottom of the third inning, but settled down during the rest of his time on the mound. He threw a total of five innings, allowing just six hits and two earned runs. He walked just one batter and struck out three.
The Explorers would give Gerhart a three-run lead with a three spot in the top of the fifth. Zack Feierstein started the frame with a double, moved to third on a balk and, after Justin Handler drew a walk, scored on Malloy's single through the right side.
Chism would ground into a fielder's choice as Handler moved to third, then stole second base. On a full count, Schoch singled to right field scoring the pair and giving La Salle a 5-2 advantage.
Schulz would throw the final four innings of scoreless baseball, allowing just two hits, no walks, and striking out a career-high tying four Blue Devils. After allowing a single to the first batter he faced, he retired 11 of the last 12 batters, erasing the only other baserunner with a double play in the eighth.
Gerhart picked up the win, Schulz the save - the first of his career - while Duke's Manno took the loss. Malloy went 4-for-5 in the game, while Schoch also had a pair of hits and Chism scored two runs.
Duke (0-1), who won 29 games at home last year, started the 2008 season with 12 straight home victories before falling to second-ranked North Carolina on March 8, 9-3. The loss was the second game of a double header with the Tar Heels, as the Blue Devils upset the national-ranked team, 13-4, in the first game.
La Salle (1-0) will continue its four-game series against Duke with a doubleheader on Saturday - first pitch at 12 PM.
