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PHILADELPHIA – Mark Williams belted a two-run homer in the bottom of the first but the Explorer offense mustered up only one more run the rest of the way in a 6-3 loss to Villanova on Tuesday afternoon at Hank DeVincent Field. The Explorers outhit the visitors 8-5 on the afternoon.

Freshman Jorge Jimenez made his second career start on the hill for the Blue & Gold but struggled with command right from the jump and was pulled after retiring just one batter. Three earned runs were charged to his line behind four walks and a hit. He struck out the only batter he retired.

La Salle (3-16) responded in the bottom of the first with two runs, both coming off the bat of Mark Williams (1-4, 2 RBI). Williams crushed a breaking ball over the wall in left field to cut the Wildcat lead to 3-2. He plated Nick Tierno (1-3, 2 R, 2 BB), who led off the inning with a single up the middle.

Tierno proved to the catalyst once again in the third inning when he led off the frame with a walk. He scored from first on a double down the left field line from George Smith Jr (2-5, RBI) to tie the ballgame up at three apiece.

It was all Villanova (6-12) for the rest of the afternoon. The Wildcats benefitted from a pair of Explorer errors in the seventh and eighth inning which led to a three-run cushion they would not relinquish.

Tom Fazzini (0-1) took the loss for the Explorers, forfeiting two runs (one earned) in the decisive seventh innings. Villanova's JB Kole (1-2) earned the win and Matt Lengel worked a nine-out save. 

La Salle will host Massachusetts in a three-game series this weekend to jump start Atlantic 10 play.

NOTES: Kevin Baron went 1-5 on Tuesday afternoon, extending his reached base streak to 21 games dating back to last season. He pushed his current hitting streak to seven games, tied for the current team lead…Tuesday's homer from Williams marked the second of his season and the fourth of his career...Dan Callahan made his first start of the season on Tuesday