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PHILADELPHIA – Ryan Welling posted single-game career highs in hits (4), doubles (3), and RBI (5) to lead the La Salle baseball team past UMass, 9-7, on Saturday afternoon at Hank DeVincent Field. The Explorers entered the bottom of the eighth trailing 7-4, but pushed five runs across in the frame to seal their tenth Atlantic 10 victory of the season.

La Salle improved to 17-19 (10-4) with the win while UMass dipped to 9-20 (3-8 A-10).

The Minutemen scored one in the top of the second, countered by a Blue and Gold two-spot in the bottom of the inning behind a two-run double from Welling. UMass scored the next six runs of the ballgame however, chasing La Salle starter Shawn O'Neill out of the contest after four innings.

The Explorers showed life again in the sixth, when Welling came up big again, smacking another two-run double to cut the UMass lead to 7-4.

Freshman Austin Clark worked innings five thru eight on the hill for the Explorers in relief, surrendering only one unearned run in the out to keep the Blue and Gold in the ballgame.

La Salle seized its opportunity in the eighth.

Sophomore Kevin Baron (1-4) led off the inning with a bloop double to right field followed by a Kevin Conroy (0-4) flyout. Sophomore Justin Korenblatt (1-4) then singled to right while advancing to second on a throwing error on a Mark Williams (1-3) flyout. With runners on second and third, Joey Ravert singled down the left field line to score two, cutting the UMass lead to 7-6.

Then it was Welling's turn. Again.

The sophomore clubbed a double over the right fielder's head to plate Ravert to even the score. Rob Friskey entered the game as a pinch runner for Welling, who was mobbed by his teammates upon returning to the dugout.

Junior George Smith, Jr. (1-3) worked a walk, preceding a Collin McGowan two-RBI single to center field to give the Blue and Gold the lead for good.

Senior Pat Christensen sat down the Minutemen 1-2-3 in the top of the ninth to earn six seventh save of the season. Clark received the win, improving his record to 2-1 on the year.

The Explorers and Minutemen will play the series finale tomorrow afternoon at 12 p.m.