JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – The La Salle baseball team scored five runs over the final three frames to rally for a  6-4 win over East Tennessee State on Friday night at Thomas Stadium. 

Jared Melone doubled in Brian Tagoe with two outs in the top of the 9th to give the Explorers their first lead of the game at 5-4. Joey Ravert then drove in an insurance run with a single up the middle to plate Melone and put La Salle in front 6-4. 

Tom Fazzini (S, 1) entered in the 9th to nail down the save, striking out two and inducing a fielder's choice grounder to pitch around a one-out single. Jorge Jimenez (W, 1-3) fanned two Buccaneers in a perfect 8th inning to earn the win. 

Down 4-1 after six innings, Chase Arnold and Collin McGowan hit solo homers in the top of the 7th to bring the Explorers within a run at 4-3. Arnold led off the inning with a solo shot before McGowan found the seats with his first career homer with one out.
 
Arnold later tied the game at 4-4 in the top of the 8th, lacing a two-out RBI single to left to score Ethan Springston from second. The sophomore finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI.

La Salle's bullpen was stellar in relief of Ravert, who was charged with four earned runs on four hits and five walks in 5.1 innings. CJ Pruitt got two quick outs to end the 6th after a two-run homer from Blake Rowlett knocked Ravert from the game. 

Greg Krug then tossed a scoreless 7th inning to get the ball to Jimenez and Fazzini. The staff had a season-high 11 strikeouts in the game. 

Game two of the series is set for a 2 p.m. first pitch on Saturday afternoon.