May 14, 2011
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
PHILADELHPIA, PA - Eric Kammler hit a tie-breaking two-run double in the eighth inning as the La Salle baseball team won game one and split a doubleheader against No. 27 Charlotte on a soggy Saturday afternoon at Hank DeVincent Field.
In game one, the Explorers (26-22, 12-9) trailed 2-0 in the fifth inning when Joe Bennie led off the frame and reached all the way to third on a throwing error by the Charlotte third baseman Shane Basen. Bennie scored two pitches later on a wild pitch to cut Charlotte's lead in half 2-1.
After back-to-back singles by George Smith Jr. and Brendan Norton, Jeff Flax knocked home his first RBI of the series with a double down the right field line to tie the game at 2-2.
Marc Schcoh capped off the inning with an RBI groundout to give La Salle a 3-2 lead.
In the seventh, Basen avenged his error with a solo home run to left that tied the game at 3-3.
Eric Van Wyk started on the hill for La Salle and had a very strong outing pitching into the eighth inning in a no decision. The lefty lasted 7.1 frames and allowed three runs off four hits with one walk and three strikeouts.
The 49ers (38-12, 17-7) put the go ahead run at third with one out when Kevin Christy came on in relief of Van Wyk in the eighth. The set up man got the job done with a pickoff at third followed by a swinging strikeout to end the frame and help pull the momentum back into the home team's favor.
Kammler capitalized on that momentum after Flax and Schoch led off the home half of the eighth with base hits. With two outs in the inning, Kammler hit a towering fly ball down the left field line that eluded the glove of Charlotte's Shane Brown and dropped into the corner, scoring two runs and putting La Salle on top for good 5-3.
Christy (6-2) earned his team-leading sixth victory and bridged the gap successfully to closer Pat Christensen, who earned his 13th save of the year with a scoreless ninth.
In game two of the twin bill, Charlotte jumped on starting pitcher Shane Petrellis early with five runs in the first two frames en route to a 10-3 series-clinching victory Petrellis lasted 3.1 frames and allowed seven runs (five earned) off eight hits with two walks and two strikeouts.
Zack Feierstein was responsible for two of La Salle's three runs scored in the game with an RBI double in the fourth and a sac fly in the eighth. Feierstein finished the game 1-for-3 with two RBI.
The only other Explorer run in game two game came off a Charlotte throwing error in the fourth inning.
Six seniors (Zack Feierstein, Zach Huff, Chris Umstead, Caolan Ronan, Mike Canfarotta and Kevin Fuqua) were honored during pregame in celebration of their graduation from La Salle University on Sunday in the commencement ceremonies.
La Salle will conclude the non-conference regular season and their home schedule on Tuesday with a matchup against city-rival Saint Joseph's. The game will not count in the Atlantic 10 standings and is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. at Hank DeVincent Field.
