NEWARK, Del. – Early offense and quality pitching helped La Salle baseball to a 9-1 defeat of the Delaware Blue Hens in the first round of the Liberty Bell Classic at Bob Hannah Stadium on Tuesday afternoon.
 
The Explorers jumped out to an early lead with seven runs on five hits in the top of the 1^st inning, starting with a two-run double by Josh Savakinus.
 
Ryan Welling followed with an RBI single and Derek Prucnal worked a walk to knock Delaware starter Matt Hornich (L, 0-1) from the game. Two batters later Michael Flax doubled in two runs before Prucnal and Flax scored on a Collin McGowan single. 
 
Prucnal started the 3^rd with a single and scored on an error before McGowan made it 9-0 with an RBI groundout.

La Salle starter Mark Williams tossed four shutout innings, striking out four Blue Hens and yielding just two hits and a walk. Alex Faust (W, 1-1) followed suit with four strikeouts in four scoreless frames, allowing two hits and no walks.
 
Tyler Dean spoiled La Salle's shutout bid with a solo homer against righty Greg Krug with two outs in the 9^th.
 
The Explorers host the Dayton Flyers this weekend for a three-game series at Hank DeVincent Field beginning on Friday at 3 p.m.