QUEENS, N.Y. – The La Salle Explorers came up short in both games of a doubleheader at St. John's on Saturday afternoon, falling 15-0 in the opener and 9-2 in the nightcap.
GAME 1 The Explorers couldn't get the bats going against St. John's starter Joe Nellis (W, 1-3), who hurled six innings of two-hit baseball before the bullpen yielded just one hit over the final three frames.
The Red Storm, meanwhile, got to La Salle righty
Jordan Meyer (L, 2-2) for six runs in four innings thanks to six hits and five walks. The La Salle pen didn't fare any better, allowing SJU five runs in the 5th and four more in the 6th.
Michael Flax threw two scoreless innings to close the game for the Blue and Gold, but Kevin Magee held La Salle at bay in the 7th and 8th before Michael LoPresti retired the side in order in the 9th to close it out.
GAME 2 La Salle jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the 1st thanks to an
Ethan Springston sac fly and a
Chase Arnold RBI double with two outs.
La Salle held the lead until the Red Storm tied the game with a pair of runs in the 3rd against
Jared Mattera (L, 0-2), sparking a string of nine unanswered runs. Mattera was charged with five runs (four earned) over five innings.
The Explorers will begin the pursuit of the Liberty Bell Classic title with an opening round game at Rider on Tuesday. The first pitch from Lawrenceville, N.J. is set for 3:30 p.m.
