RICHMOND, Va. – Trailing by six after four innings, the La Salle University baseball team rallied to make it a one-run game, but the comeback attempt fell just short at Richmond Saturday afternoon, 8-6.
The Spiders struck for six runs over the first four innings and held a 6-0 advantage heading to the fifth. That's when the Explorers got things going.
Junior
Peyton Sorrels sparked the La Salle offense in the fifth with an RBI double to center, scoring senior
Yan Carlo Rivera. Junior
Ben Faso followed that up with an RBI double of his own to bring home Sorrels, making it 6-2.
The Explorers then made it a three-run contest in the sixth when junior
Kevin McGowan smacked his first home run of the season, a solo shot over the left field fence.
However, the Spiders quickly responded, as Tyler Plantier hit a solo homer of his own to push the Richmond lead to 7-3.
La Salle didn't go down without a fight, though, and came through with three runs in the seventh inning. Rivera led off with a double and then came in to score on an RBI single by senior
Austin Constantini. Later in the inning, senior
Brian Dudeck knocked in Constantini on a two-out RBI double to center, and sophomore
Ryan Guckin crossed the plate on a wild pitch to make it a one-run game, 7-6.
Sophomore
Sebastian Martinez entered in relief for La Salle in the bottom of the frame and worked his way out of a bases-loaded jam to keep the Explorers within a run. La Salle worked two base runners in the eighth inning but couldn't take advantage.
Richmond added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth and held off La Salle in the ninth to close out the 8-6 decision.
Faso's third double of the series put him at 16 for the season, giving him sole possession of ninth place on the team's single season doubles list.
McGowan and Sorrels paced La Salle with two hits apiece, while Rivera drew two walks and scored twice. Sophomore
Erik Janss was dealt the loss on the mound.
The Explorers and Spiders will close out the series on Sunday with a 10 a.m. first pitch.
