March 18, 2011
Box Score
PHILADELPHIA, PA - Trailing 5-0 with only three outs to work with, the La Salle baseball team rallied to pull off a thrilling 6-5 victory over Manhattan on a picturesque Friday afternoon at Hank DeVincent Field.
Jon Gyles had the final blow in the rally, lining a two-run single to left-center, plating Dan Klem and Jeff Flax and helping La Salle walk-off a winner.
"I knew it wasn't over, I knew we would battle until the final out," said head coach Mike Lake.
The Explorers (8-8) improved to a perfect 3-0 at home and climbed back to the .500 mark for the second time this season.
Adam Kammler led off the rally in the game's final frame with a walk followed by a single and another walk, loading the bases for Joe Bennie. The shortstop sparked the offense and gave La Salle their first runs of the day with a bases-clearing triple to deep center, bringing the Explorers within 5-3.
Tony Negrin followed that up with an RBI single, plating Bennie and bringing La Salle within one. Two batters later, after a Jeff Flax double put the winning run in scoring position, Gyles came through with the first walk-off hit of the season for the Explorers.
"I keep telling the guys take one game, one inning at a time. That's the great thing about college baseball, anything can happen," Lake said.
The Jaspers (4-10) were in control throughout the first eight innings thanks to a dominating pitching performance by starter John Soldinger. The right-hander went eight shutout innings and allowed just seven hits with no walks and three strikeouts.
Kevin Fuqua started for La Salle and allowed five runs (two earned) off eight hits in six innings of work. Dominic Sgroi and Zach Huff pitched three important innings of scoreless relief to keep the Explorers within striking distance.
Huff (1-0) earned the win after pitching a scoreless and hitless ninth.
The Big 5 Baseball Bash continues tomorrow as La Salle will play a doubleheader against Saint Peters beginning at noon. Manhattan will move on to play St. Joseph's while New York Tech, the Sunday opponent for La Salle, will play Villanova.
