May 15, 2010
Box Score
PHILADELPHIA - In another wild finish at Hank DeVincent Field, the third in the last four games this week for the Explorers, La Salle Baseball came from behind again to defeat St. Bonaventure, 5-4, and sweep the three-game Atlantic 10 series on Saturday afternoon.
Trailing 4-3 heading into the ninth, Brian Meagher, who had been hitless in 13 at-bats in the series, hit a one-out single through the left side, moved to second on a wild pitch and took third on a ground out by John Malloy.
The Bonnies, who used three pitchers in the ninth, brought in Cory Sudbrook to face Jon Gyles and he hit Gyles with his second pitch. As a result, rarely used Brad Steinbach (3 games, 3.1 innings) came in from center to pitch to Brendan Norton.
With a full count, Norton bounced a ball high into the air which Steinbach fielded close to the first base line. He turned and hurried a throw to first, which went over first baseman Ryan Mosher glove and into right field, which allowed Gyles to race home with the game-winning run.
The play set off the third celebration this week and is the fourth walk-off win for the Explorers this season. They beat Temple on April 16 in 12 innings on a Gyles RBI single, then four days ago, Jeff Flax hit a three-run home run to beat Rider in the 11th inning.
Yesterday, Malloy's solo home run in the 11th sent Explorers fans home with a victory and today's walk-off win rivals the past two year's Senior Day heroics.
Last year, in La Salle's final game of the year, the Explorers trailed Richmond 4-1 heading into the 9th, but plated three in the third to force extra frames and Gyles hit an RBI single in the 10th for the win.
Two years ago, a rain-out forced a double header on Senior Day 2008, and Meagher ended both games against Saint Joseph's with a walk-off hit, a double in the 10th in game one and a single in the ninth of game two.
St. Bonaventure (16-29, 7-17 A-10) jumped out to a three-run lead when Steinbach hit a one-out, three-run home run to right field in the first frame, scoring Nick Cunliffe and Jason Radwan.
The Explorers responded with a run in the bottom of the frame as Malloy singled with two out and three straight walks, the last by Flax, brought him home. However, the Bonnies plated an unearned run in the second to take back their three-run advantage.
In the bottom of the second, Kevin Jones drew a lead-off walk, which ended Bonnies' starter Nick Brennen's day on the mound. Reliever Jordan Crane walked Marc Schoch and Tony Negrin singled to load the bases for the second straight inning.
Crane would get out of the jam on an infield pop-up, a caught stealing at home and a groundball to keep the Bonnies in front, 4-1.
The Explorers continued getting base runners, but could not get them across the plate until the fifth. Gyles hit a lead-off double, his 21st of the year, which was followed by a Norton single to short.
A Flax fielder's choice put runners on the corners and Chris Umstead brought home Gyles with a sacrifice fly. Flax stole second during Eric Kammler's at-bat, then scored on his double to left-center to pull La Salle to with one at 4-3.
Crane threw 7.2 innings of relief for the Bonnies and allowed just five hits, three runs and struck out two before being pulled in the ninth.
La Salle starter Cody Weiss went 5.2 innings, surrendering eight hits, three earned runs, struck out four, but walked five. Out of the pen, Pat Christensen improved to 4-4 with 3.1 innings of scoreless relief, allowing just one hit and striking out three.
Negrin, Gyles, and Norton all had a pair of hits for the Explorers, while Gyles scored twice. The Bonnies' Cunliffe had three hits on the day, while Radwan and Steinbach had two each.
The series sweep continues to keep La Salle in contention for the A-10 Baseball Championship, which starts 11 days from today. The Explorers sweep their second series of 2010, which ties the 1997 and 1999 squads for the most in an A-10 season.
La Salle (20-28, 13-11 A-10) now matches the 2004 and 2006 teams with 20 wins in a season, the most since the 1999 squad won 27. The 13 conference wins are the most ever in A-10, while the 10 home A-10 wins are the most while in the league. Their 14-9 home overall mark is also the best in the last 15 years.
The Explorers will complete the regular season with a three-game set at Massachusetts next week, with a Thursday (3 PM), Friday (1 PM), and Saturday (12 PM) series in Amherst.
