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PHILADELPHIA – In front of a packed senior day crowd, the La Salle baseball team took down Delaware, 3-2, on Sunday afternoon at Hank DeVincent Field. Junior George Smith, Jr. (1-2, BB) clocked a two-run homer in the seventh to tie the ballgame and senior Dan Klem (1-3) scored the go-ahead run in the eighth on a Justin Korenblatt (1-4) double to help secure the victory. Senior Pat Christensen (6-1) worked 1.2 scoreless innings in relief to pick up the win in the final home game of his career.

Christensen, Klem, and Ryan Donohue were honored in a pre-game ceremony for their contributions to the program over the last four seasons.

The Explorers improve to 21-23 on the season with the win while Delaware dips to 30-17. Adam Davis (4-6) took the loss for the Blue Hens, giving up three runs in 7.2 innings.

Sophomore Shane Hollman made the start on the hill for La Salle and tossed six innings of two-run ball while striking out seven. Delaware scratched across a run in fourth and another in the seventh for a 2-0 lead.

La Salle tied the game in the bottom of the seventh on one mighty swing from Smith, Jr. Freshman Joey Ravert (1-3) singled through the right side with one out, followed by a Ryan Welling (0-3) flyout. Smith, Jr. stepped to the plate and crushed an 0-1 fastball over the left field wall to tie the game at two. The dinger was his third of the season and the fifth of his career.

Christensen entered the game with one out in the eighth and induced two groundouts around a single to escape the inning with a tie intact.

Klem led off the ninth with an infield single, beating out a routine grounder to the third baseman to put the go-ahead run aboard. After a Kevin Baron (1-4) popout and Kevin Conroy (0-4) strikeout, Korenblatt sent Klem into a sprint around the bases on a double over the left fielder's head. Klem rounded third with a head of steam and narrowly beat the relay throw on a nifty slide to give the Explorers a 3-2 edge.

Christensen retired the side in order in the top of the ninth to cement the win. The senior has now recorded a win or save in 16 of La Salle's 21 victories this season.

The Blue and Gold will take the field again on Friday, May 10 vs. A-10 rival St. Bonaventure in Olean, N.Y. The Explorers and Bonnies will square off in a doubleheader on Friday followed by single-nine on Saturday.