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PHILADELPHIA – Kellen Pagel's three-run homer in the sixth inning proved to be the difference on Saturday afternoon as Massachusetts defeated the La Salle baseball team, 8-6, at Hank DeVincent Field. The game was locked up at five apiece when Pagel hit the go-ahead blast.

The Explorers (3-18, 0-2 A-10) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first behind a pair of Minutemen errors. George Smith Jr (2-5, 2 R, RBI) knocked a double down the right field line and advanced to third on a mishandle by right fielder Adam Picard. Justin Korenblatt (1-3, 3 R, 2 BB) worked a walk before Mark Williams (2-2, RBI) lifted a sacrifice fly to score Smith Jr from third base. Josh Savakinus (1-4) then smacked a ground ball that was booted by second baseman Nick Sanford to score plate Korenblatt and put La Salle up 2-0.

UMass (3-12, 2-0 A-10) registered a three-spot in the second inning, taking advantage of three walks in the inning by La Salle starter Joey Ravert. Ravert threw three innings, giving up three earned runs while striking out three and walking six batters.

The Explorers tied the game at three by picking up a run in the third. Smith Jr singled home Kevin Baron, who led off the inning with a double down the right field line. Baron has reached base in every game this season and carries a 23-game reached base streak dating back to last season.

The Minutemen picked up two fourth inning runs off Brian Maher but the Explorers answered back with a pair in the fifth. Smith Jr bopped a solo homer, his first of the season before Kevin Conroy (2-4, 2 RBI) poked a two-out single to score Korenblatt, who doubled earlier in the inning.

Pagel's three-run sixth inning homer off Andrew Craig (L, 0-1) was the dagger, as La Salle was only able to respond with a single run in the seventh inning. Brandon Walsh earned the win (1-2) while DJ Jauss worked a scoreless ninth to notch the save.

La Salle and UMass will play the final game of the series on Sunday at noon.