Box Score | Box Score (PDF) 

PHILADELPHIA – The La Salle baseball team used a four-run ninth inning, capped by a walk-off single by Justin Korenblatt (2-5, 2 RBI), to score a 6-5, come-from-behind victory over Lehigh on Tuesday afternoon at Hank DeVincent Field. The victory advances the Explorers into the second round of the Liberty Bell Classic.

"If feels great to come back against a quality team like Lehigh," head coach Mike Lake said post-game. "The kids didn't give up, they didn't quit, they kept playing hard despite not having their 'A game' and kept fighting."

The outlook was bleak after the Mountain Hawks (11-11) posted a four-spot in the top of the seventh to open up a 5-1 lead. Josh Savakinus poked a two-out, RBI single in the bottom of the eighth to make it a 5-2 Lehigh lead before the Blue & Gold wielded some walk-off magic in the ninth.

Joey Ravert (2-3, R) led off the frame with a single up the middle before Jack Meeker fanned in a pinch-hit opportunity. Lake then sent two more pinch hitters to the plate, Nick Tierno, who worked a walk, and JT Crits, who smoked a single to load the bases. George Smith Jr (1-5, 2 RBI) then broke an 0-for-4 day with a two-RBI single up the middle to cut the Mountain Hawk lead to 5-4. A passed ball scored pinch runner Felipe Rivera before Korenblatt scalded a fastball to bring home the game-winning run.

"Crits had a big hit for us and Tierno worked an important walk," Lake said of his pinch hitters in the ninth. "Then the middle of the order came up with men on base which is want you want. We want our best hitters up in that situation."

La Salle (6-18) used 10 pitchers on the day, seven of whom notched unblemished frames. Shawn O'Neill (2-5) was credited with the win after tossing a scoreless ninth. Lehigh's Jordan Smith (0-1) took the loss after giving up two runs (one earned) while not retiring a single batter.

The Explorers will visit Richmond this weekend for a three-game series as they roll through Atlantic 10 play. 

NOTES: Savakinus extended his reached base streak to a current team-best 12 games...Mark Williams and Smith Jr each hit safely for the sixth straight game...Korenblatt picked up his team-leading ninth multiple hit game of the year...Starting pitcher Greg Krug worked his third consecutive outing without surrendering a run