March 14, 2009
Box Score
PHILADELPHIA - Pinch hitter Rick Gehman singled home Chris Umstead in the 10th inning to lift La Salle Baseball to an 8-7 come-back victory over Saint Peter's in non-conference action at Hank DeVincent Field, Saturday afternoon.
Umstead led off the bottom frame by drawing a walk which was followed by Brian Meagher - who went 3-for-4 in the game with a two-RBI triple - laying down a sacrifice bunt.
On the play, the Peacock first baseman misplayed the throw and Umstead moved to third and Meagher to second. Umstead then laced a line drive off the left field fence to score the game winner.
After falling behind 1-0 after the first inning, TJ Chism gave La Salle a 2-1 lead with his fifth home run of the season, scoring Jeff Flax. However, Chism - who started the game on the mound - ran into trouble in the third.
Saint Peter's (2-11) scored four runs in the frame, as Mike McGuire singled home a pair of runs and John Lynch and Mark Roarty had RBI hits.
The Explorers battled back to take the lead in the fifth inning with Chism driving in Justin Handler, which was followed by a Marc Schoch RBI single, plating John Malloy. With two out and runners on the corners, Meagher lined a shot into right center for a triple a give La Salle a 6-5 lead.
Malloy responded to a Peacock run in the sixth inning - off of reliever Kevin Christy - with a solo home run to right center, his fourth long ball of the spring.
The Peacocks were able to tie the game at 7-all with a Justyn Carter RBI single in the eighth inning, which ended Christy's night and in came Dennis Burge.
He retired five straight before a one-out double in the 10th frame. Roarty, who had a team-high three hits, then hit a blooping pop behind second base for a hit, but Michael LaCava was unable to move to third on the play.
Burge got the next batter to hit into a fielder's choice and struck out Carter with runners on the corners to end the inning. He would get the win, now 1-0 in 2009, and his 11th career victory - tying him for 10th on the all-time wins list at the school.
La Salle (6-6) will complete its three-game home stand with a 12 PM game against Manhattan on Sunday.
