Baseball | March 7, 2019

PHILADELPHIA – After getting off to its best start since 2011, the La Salle University baseball team will face a tough test this weekend as the Explorers head out to Las Cruces, N.M., for a four-game series at New Mexico State.
 
SERIES INFO - La Salle (6-3) at New Mexico State (11-2)

• Game 1: Friday – 8:05 p.m. ET (6:05 p.m. MST)
  • Matt Holt vs. Brock Whittlesey | LIVE STATS | WATCH (TV: FOX Sports Arizona) (FOX Sports GO)
• Game 2: Saturday – 3:05 p.m. ET (1:05 p.m. MST)
  • Jackson Ray vs. Justin Dehn | LIVE STATS | WATCH | AUDIO
• Game 3: Saturday – 6:35 p.m. ET (4:35 p.m. MST)
  • Mike Anthony vs. Chris Jefferson | LIVE STATS | WATCH | AUDIO
• Game 4: Sunday – 3:05 p.m. ET (1:05 p.m. MST)
  • Aidan Frye vs. Chance Hroch | LIVE STATS | WATCH | AUDIO 

FRYE EARNS DOUBLE HONORS

• Freshman right-handed pitcher Aidan Frye was named Atlantic 10 Conference Rookie of the Week and Philadelphia Big 5 Pitcher of the Week on Monday.
• Frye threw a complete game shutout in Sunday's seven-inning victory over Albany. He scattered just three hits and one walk while striking out eight en route to his first career win.

EXPLORERS WIN THIRD STRAIGHT SERIES

• La Salle took 2-of-3 games from Albany this past weekend to secure its third consecutive series win.
• The Explorers opened the series with a monstrous 18-hit performance in a 13-6 comeback victory in which they scored 12 unanswered runs. Nine different Explorers had a hit in the game, led by seniors Ben Faso (3-for-5, 5 RBIs) and Brett Simon (3-for-4, 2 R) as well as junior Ryan Guckin (3-for-4) and sophomore Tommy Toal (2-for-3, 3 R).
• The Explorers nearly pulled off another come-from-behind win in game two before falling in 10 innings, 6-5. Freshman Matt Rivera hit his second home run of the season as part of a 2-for-4 game.
• Frye led the Explorers to a 9-0 win in the series finale with a dominant effort on the mound. Senior Peyton Sorrels was a perfect 4-of-4 at the plate, while Guckin and freshman Nick O'Day each had two hits apiece.

BANKIN' ON THE BULLPEN

• La Salle's bullpen has been a major reason for its 6-3 start to the season.
• Entering their fourth series of the year, the Explorers' relief pitchers own a 1.07 ERA and have a 5.29 strikeout-to-walk ratio while holding opponents to a lowly .156 batting average.
• Senior Connor Hinchliffe has yet to surrender a run over five appearances (6.0 IP) and has four saves to his credit. Junior Niko Jenkins has yet to allow a hit over two appearances and sophomore Colin Scanlon is 2-0 with a 1.13 ERA, 0.63 WHIP and 10 strikeouts over three relief appearances (8.0 IP).

SCOUTING NEW MEXICO STATE

• The Aggies are off to a scorching start to the season at 11-2 overall and enter the weekend on a four-game winning streak.
• NM State swept Delaware this past weekend in four games, 11-3, 17-3, 15-2 and 11-4. The Aggies outscored the Blue Hens 54-12.
• The Aggies are receiving votes in this week's NCBWA National Poll.
• Nick Gonzales is the nation's triple crown leader after three weeks. Gonzales is hitting .590 with 10 home runs and a whopping 37 RBIs. He also leads the country with 36 hits and a 1.213 slugging percentage.
• Meanwhile, Tristen Carranza is second in the nation in homers with eight after belting four against Delaware. Joseph Ortiz is hitting .463 with 21 RBIs, while Eric Mingus, Caleb Henderson and Logan Bottrell are all hitting over .400.
• On the mound, Chance Hroch, Sunday's starter, leads the team with a 1.96 ERA to go with a 3-0 record. Game one starter Brock Whittlesey is 3-0 as well with a 3.32 ERA and 22 strikeouts. Justin Dehn (3-0, 4.67 ERA) and Chris Jefferson (2-1, 4.76 ERA) make up the rest of the rotation.