AMHERST, Mass. – Sophomore
Jackson Ray pitched a career-high 8.1 innings, but the La Salle University baseball team fell in the bottom of the ninth inning at Massachusetts on Friday, 3-2.
The Explorers led, 2-0, after the top of the third before UMass scored runs in the third and fourth innings to tie it up. An Alec Norton single scored the game-winner for the Minutemen with one out in the ninth.
Ray allowed only three runs and six hits while striking out two in the tough-luck loss.
Senior
Brian Dudeck went 2-for-4 with an RBI single that scored senior
Austin Constantini for the opening run in the third. Sophomore
Ryan Guckin followed an RBI groundout to bring home junior
Ben Faso, putting La Salle up 2-0.
Massachusetts (11-17, 4-9 A-10) finished with only seven hits, while Justin Lasko (3-2) allowed only five hits in a complete game effort on the mound.
La Salle (11-25, 2-8 A-10) will look to bounce back in game two on Saturday for a 1 p.m. first pitch.