March 27, 2010
Box Score
PHILADELPHIA - Sophomore Kevin Christy tossed his first career complete game, as he allowed just one earned run and struck out five, to help La Salle Baseball to its second straight win in Atlantic 10 Conference play, a 7-2 victory over Dayton on Saturday afternoon at Hank DeVincent Field.
Christy scattered six hits and walked two as he picked up his second straight win and the fourth of his young career. In his last four outings, Christy has struck out at least five batters in each, which includes a career-high six at VMI (3/14). He leads the staff with 31 Ks this season.
At the plate, four Explorers had at least two hits, led by Brian Meagher, 3-for-5 and one RBI, and Jeff Flax, 3-for-4 with two RBI. Brendan Norton and Marc Schoch also had a pair of hits, while Schoch and Dan Klem matched Flax with two RBI.
La Salle gave Christy a 1-0 advantage in the first inning when John Malloy, who has now hit safely in 18 straight A-10 games and reached base in 40 consecutive contests, singled to lead off the game. He took second on a wild pitch and came home when Meagher also singled up the middle.
Dayton (9-13, 0-2 A-10) tied the game in the fourth with an unearned run. Jimmy Roesinger reached on the error, went to second on a single by Zach Jacob, and each moved up a base on Aaron Dunsmore's sacrifice. Roesinger scored on Cole Tyrell's grounder and Christy got out of the inning with another grounder.
Christy actually allowed a base runner in every inning except the sixth, but stranded five and two were erased on double plays.
La Salle (6-14, 2-0 A-10) responded in the bottom of the frame with three of its own. Norton singled to lead off the frame, and after batter interference, Flax singled and Schoch knocked in Norton with a double off the left field fence.
Kevin Jones loaded the bases when he was hit by a pitch and Klem gave the Explorers a 4-1 lead with a two-RBI single up the middle.
Dayton starter Cameron Hobson (0-2), who was named the 2009 A-10 Rookie of the Year after a 5-0 league mark, was tagged for three more in the seventh as La Salle put the game way.
Malloy led off the frame with a walk and Meagher followed with a single and each moved up a base on a fly out by Norton. With first base open, Jon Gyles was intentionally walked and Flax followed with a two-RBI double down the left-field line and Schoch followed with an RBI single to put La Salle up 7-1.
In the ninth, Christy surrendered a solo home run to Tyrell but struck out two and ended the game with a fly ball to center.
The Explorers, who are now 4-3 at home this season and have won four of their last five, will complete their conference series with Dayton on Sunday with first pitch scheduled for 1 PM.
