MERION STATION, Pa. – La Salle set season highs in hits and runs to take the middle game of the three-game series at Saint Joseph's by a 12-4 count on Saturday at Smithson Field. Six Explorers had multiple hits, led by three each by senior Tony Negrin, junior Joe Bennie and sophomore George Smith, Jr.

Bennie was 3-for-3 with a two-run home run in the third, while Smith had two doubles and drove in three. Negrin had three singles, two RBI and stole two bases. 

Senior Zack Feierstein also had a pair of doubles and knocked in two runs and freshman Kevin Conroy singled, doubled and drove in a run. 

The Explorer (19-29, 6-14 A-10) offense exploded for its best offensive performance a day after being stifled to just seven hits and two runs in 11 innings. On Saturday, La Salle ripped 17 hits, including six doubles and a home run. It was the most hits by La Salle since recording 19 in a 13-9 win at Morehead State on March 12, 2011.

The run support made a winner out of junior southpaw Ryan Donahue, who improved to 3-3 after allowing four earned runs in 5.1 innings. He struck out three.

Senior Caolan Ronan pitched the final 3.2 innings without allowing a run. He surrendered just one hit and did not walk a batter for his first career save.

SJU (19-29, 12-7 A-10) took a 1-0 lead in the second but the Blue and Gold got to reigning A-10 and Big 5 Pitcher of the Week, Alex Pracher, in the third. Senior Jeff Flax led off with a double and scored on Bennie's team-best fifth home run of the season. 

Conroy then doubled, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on an error by the catcher. Smith singled and Feierstein followed with a two-bagger to put runners at second and third. Another wild pitch scored Smith and Feierstein came around on Negrin's single. When the dust settled, the Explorers had scored five runs and led 5-1.

Two errors and a Bennie single loaded the bases in the fourth and Smith cleared the bases with his three-run double. All three runs were unearned. 

Hawk senior Kevin Taylor launched his second home run in as many days, a two-run shot to make it 8-3 in the fifth, but Feierstein's two-run double in the seventh gave the Explorers a 10-4 lead. Negrin followed with another RBI single to make it 11-4.

Conroy singled home an insurance run in the ninth to complete the scoring.

Pracher (4-8) suffered the loss, allowing five earned runs in 3.1 innings. He struck out eight. 

The series concludes on Sunday at noon.