MERION STATION, Pa. – Saint Joseph's Greg Kumpel hit a walk-off home run in the 11th inning to give the Hawks a 4-2 victory over La Salle on Friday afternoon at Smithson Field. The blast spoiled another outstanding effort by Explorer starter Eric Van Wyk, who threw 9.2 innings, scattering five hits and allowing just two earned runs. He received the no-decision.

The well-pitched game moved along at lightning speed, as SJU starter Kyle Mullen and Van Wyk battled all afternoon long. Nine innings were completed in well less than two hours and the final game time was 2:12. The pitchers combined to allow just 13 hits between the two teams in 11 innings. 

Van Wyk pitched into the tenth throwing just 106 pitches. His 9.2 innings pitched are the 11th most thrown by a starter in one game in the country this season. In comparison, those pitchers needed a minimum of 128 pitches to throw that deep into the contest.

The southpaw did not allow a hit until the fifth inning and retired 14 of the first 15 batters he faced. He walked two batters and struck out three. Van Wyk's 87.1 innings pitched this season moved him into the top 10 all-time at La Salle. 

On the offensive end, senior Brendan Norton had three hits, including a home run and two doubles, while junior Dan Klem also had a pair of hits.

La Salle took a 1-0 lead in the third on Norton's solo shot to right and added another run in the sixth. Norton led off with a double, moved to third on an error and scored on senior Adam Kammler's sacrifice fly.

The Hawks (22-26, 12-6 A-10), fighting for their first A-10 Tournament berth in school history, chipped away at the lead. In the sixth, Anthony Cirillo walked to open the frame and scored when Ryan Pater tripled. Kevin Taylor led off the seventh with a home run to right to tie the score at 2-2.

The Explorers (18-29, 5-14 A-10) had a chance in the ninth when Klem led off with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt but was stranded there. In the bottom of the tenth, freshman reliever Mike MacLeod (4-1) came in with a runner on second and two outs and induced an inning-ending groundout.

Pater led off with a walk in the 11th but was thrown out at second on a fielder's choice by Kevin Kratchowill. The next batter, Kumpel, drove a ball into the wind and over the 358-sign in left-center to send the Hawk faithful into a frenzy.

Mullen received the no-decision after allowing one earned run in 8.2 innings. He scattered five hits, walked none and struck out five. Reliever Steven Schuler earned the win by pitching the final two outs in the top of the eleventh.

The series resumes on Saturday at noon.