PHILADELPHIA – Senior Joey Ravert pitched six innings to earn the win while belting a two-run homer in the 5th that proved to be the difference for La Salle in a 4-3 win over Canisius on Friday afternoon in the opening game of the Big 5 Baseball Bash. 

Canisius tied the game at 2-2 in the top of the 5th against Ravert (W, 2-1), who limited the Golden Griffins to a pair of runs while striking out eight over six frames. The Malvern Prep grad then belted a two-run homer to deep right center to put the Explorers in front 4-2. 

Tom Fazzini (S, 3) nailed down the save although Canisius did threaten in the 9th, scoring an unearned run and moving the tying run into scoring position with one out. The righty, however, struck out two straight Golden Griffins to end the game. 

Canisius took a 1-0 lead in the 1st with back-to-back hits to start the game, but the Explorers quickly answered in their half of the opening frame. Kevin McGowan led off with a double and scored on Jared Melone's single to left. 

The Blue and Gold pushed the lead to 2-0 in the 3rd when a two-out single by Ethan Springston preceded a Chase Arnold RBI double. Springston finished 2-for-3 on the afternoon. 

Billy Worswick and Greg Krug also worked scoreless innings for the La Salle bullpen to bridge the gap between Ravert and Fazzini. 

The Explorers are back in action on Saturday afternoon with a doubleheader against Saint Peter's at Hank DeVincent. First pitch of the opening game is set for 12 p.m.