ROCK HILL, S.C. – The La Salle baseball team fell 11-2 to the Winthrop Eagles in the 2016 season opener on Friday afternoon at Winthrop Ballpark. 

After falling behind 2-0 in the 2nd, the Explorers tied the game in the top of the 5th thanks to three straight hits and a sacrifice fly. Ethan Springston started the inning with a single and moved to 3rd on a double by Jared Melone. 

Springston scored on a Ben Faso single before Michael Flax plated Melone with a sacrifice fly to right to tie the game.  

The Eagles, however, answered with nine runs over the next three innings to break the game open. La Salle righty Billy Worswick (L, 0-1) took the loss, giving up four runs in relief of starter Joe Ravert in the 5th.

Ravert went four innings, surrendering two runs on five hits while striking out three. Greg Paprocki came in for Worswick and gave up two runs in two innings before James Santore tossed two scoreless frames to finish the game. 

The Explorers are back in action tomorrow afternoon for a doubleheader with the Eagles. First pitch of the opening game is set for 2 p.m.