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La Salle University Athletics

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Cucinotta
12
Winner Rider RID 8-14
11
La Salle LASALLE 12-12
Winner
Rider RID
8-14
12
Final
11
La Salle LASALLE
12-12
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Rider RID 1 4 2 0 0 1 2 2 0 12 12 3
La Salle LASALLE 0 0 0 0 0 5 6 0 0 11 13 3

W: Andrew Imperatore (2-2) L: Hinchliffe, Connor (0-1) S: Zach Gakeler (5)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Explorers’ Late Comeback Not Enough in 12-11 Defeat to Rider

PHILADELPHIA - Trailing 8-0, the La Salle University baseball team came all the way back to take the lead late, but the Explorers couldn't hold on as they fell, 12-11, to Rider from Hank DeVincent Field in the Liberty Bell Classic on Tuesday.

HOW IT HAPPENED
  • It was all Rider early on, with the Broncs scoring runs in each of the first three innings to go up by seven. Rider added a run in the sixth inning to extend the advantage to 8-0.
  • La Salle had a prime opportunity to chip away at the lead in the second with runners on second and third and only one out, but nothing came of it. The Explorers also left a man on second in the third.
  • Facing an eight-run deficit in the bottom of the sixth, the bats finally came alive for the Explorers, getting six hits in the inning. Freshman Nick Hopkins led off with a double and then scored the first run on a double by sophomore Jack Cucinotta. Senior Ben Faso then drove in Cucinotta before scoring on a double by fellow senior Kevin McGowan.
  • Junior Ryan Guckin then brought home McGowan to cut the lead in half, 8-4. Sophomore Tommy Toal capped off the five-run inning with an RBI single to left center to score freshman Tatem Levins, making it 8-5.
  • However, Rider answered right back with two runs in the top of the seventh to go back on top by five.
  • Still, La Salle continued to build momentum on offense in the bottom of the seventh, piling up five hits in the frame. Cucinotta led off with an inside-the-park home run, dropping a ball into right that bounced all the way to the corner, allowing him to round the bases.
  • Later in the inning, Levins ripped a two-run single to center to drive in Faso and Guckin, bringing the Explorers within a pair, 10-8. Freshman Nick O'Day scored on an error in the next at-bat, and then Toal struck again with a two-run double to score Levins and senior Brian Tagoe, pushing La Salle ahead 11-10.
  • The Broncs had an answer again in the eighth though, as Zach Fick hit a two-run single to put Rider back in front, 12-11.
  • McGowan and Guckin both walked to lead off the bottom of the eighth and moved into scoring position, but the next three batters struck out. La Salle had an opportunity in the ninth as well after Toal hit a leadoff single and advanced to second, but he was left stranded as the Explorers fell short.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
  • Four Explorers finished with multi-hit games led by Toal, who went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and a walk. Cucinotta was 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBI, while Levins was 2-of-4 with two runs and two RBIs. McGowan also went 2-for-3 with a run and RBI.
  • La Salle used six pitchers in a game that lasted nearly four hours, with senior Matt Holt proving most efficient with two strikeouts over 2.1 scoreless innings of relief.
UP NEXT
  • The Explorers will be right back at Hank DeVincent Field on Wednesday when they take on Delaware State at 3 p.m.
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