April 10, 2011
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
AMBLER, PA - The La Salle baseball team used timely hitting and an exceptional team effort in a doubleheader sweep over Temple on Sunday afternoon at Skip Wilson Field. The victory completes a three-game series sweep for the Explorers, who win their first Atlantic 10 series of the season.
In game one, La Salle fell behind again for the second straight day but was able to battle back to earn a comfortable 10-2 victory.
La Salle starter Eric Van Wyk pitched effectively throughout and lasted 7.1 innings to earn his second win of the season. The southpaw's only blemishes during the game were a pair of solo home runs in the second and seventh innings. In total, Van Wyk allowed seven hits and two earned runs with two walks and four strikeouts.
Dan Klem continued his clutch series with a two-out, two-run single in the third to gave La Salle a 2-1 lead that they would not relinquish for the remainder of the ballgame.
La Salle added another insurance run in the seventh on a George Smith Jr. RBI double.
The Explorers (18-13, 5-4) broke the game open in the ninth with a seven-run frame, the most runs scored in an inning by La Salle this year.
In game two, Smith Jr. again came up big with the score tied at 5-5 in the ninth inning. The freshman smacked an RBI single with the bases loaded and the go ahead run at third that sparked a four-run rally, propelling La Salle to a 9-5 victory to cap off the sweep.
The freshman had two hits and three RBI in game two of the twin bill to cap off a breakout afternoon that saw Smith Jr. go 5-for-8 with five RBI and two runs scored in addition to several nifty defensive plays in centerfield.
Cody Weiss started game two for La Salle and went six gritty innings against a potent Temple lineup. Dominic Sgroi and Pat Christensen closed the deal to help propel La Salle to the sweep.
Overall in the doubleheader, La Salle scored 11 combined runs in the ninth inning, seven in game one and four in game two. The Explorers also fell behind 1-0 in each game of the series, but was able to battle back to win all three to move above the .500 mark in the Atlantic 10 heading into next weekend's series at St. Bonaventure.
La Salle will play Penn on Wednesday at home before departing for Olean on Thursday. Wednesday's first pitch against the Quakers is set for 3 p.m. La Salle upended Penn 6-4 on March 29 in round one of the Liberty Bell Classic.
