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La Salle-Toledo Box Score (PDF)
La Salle - WSU Box Score (PDF)

CARY, N.C. – The La Salle baseball team split a pair on opening day, defeating Toledo 8-7 before falling 9-5 to Wright State in the night cap.

The Explorers trailed Toledo 7-4 entering the ninth, but put up a four-spot to take the lead and held on behind senior Pat Christensen's 34^th career save. Kevin Conroy and pitch hitter Joe Dorsey singled to start the ninth and Kevin Baron drew a free pass. Freshman JT Crits smacked a double down the right field line to score Conroy and Dorsey on his first collegiate hit. After a Justin Korenblatt strikeout, senior Dan Klem roped a single into right center to put La Salle up 8-7. Christensen struck out two Rockets in the home frame to earn the save.

Alec Baum earned his first career win, throwing three innings while surrendering only one hit. Ryan Welling pounded out three hits for the Blue and Gold and scored two runs. George Smith, Jr. and Kevin Conroy both notched 2-for-4 lines at the plate.

La Salle threatened a comeback victory in game two but left the bases loaded in the ninth in the 9-5 loss.

The 7-8 combination of Kevin Baron and Brandon Day combined to go 7-for-8 with two runs scored. The pair orchestrated a successful hit-and-run in the bottom of the third, creating a first and third situation with no outs. Baron was picked off third base but Day crossed home plate on a Korenblatt single to center to put the Explorers on the board.

The Explorers pushed three runs across in the sixth behind a Smith, Jr. walk and Conroy triple. Conroy scored on an errant throw to close the deficit to 7-5. Baron singled to left later in the inning and eventually scored on a Welling single. Welling pinch hit for Dan Callahan, who started his first career game behind the dish.

La Salle scored an unearned run in the seventh but the Raiders countered to maintain a four-run lead.

The Explorers loaded the bases in the top of the ninth but Smith, Jr. struck out and Crits bounced into a 4-6-3 double play to put the game away.

Austin Clark threw four impressive innings in his first taste of college ball, striking out three while being charged with one earned run. Dominic Sgroi took the loss in relief after surrendering four earned runs in two innings, including two Raider home runs. Adam Cherry worked a scoreless 1.2 innings, walking one and striking out one.