GREENVILLE, S.C. – Freshman Gabe Rappa earned a win in his first collegiate start and fellow rookie David Smith totaled three hits as the La Salle University baseball team picked up its first win of the season at Furman on Saturday, 5-4.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Furman jumped on top quickly on a two-run home run by Trent Alley with one out in the first inning.
• The Explorers answered back in the second though as sophomore Nick O'Day doubled to bring home senior Ryan Guckin and then scored the tying run on a single up the middle by freshman Elijah Dickerson.
• La Salle took the lead in the fourth inning on an RBI groundout by junior Alfonse Sadallah that brought in freshman David Smith for a 3-2 lead.
• Smith then delivered an RBI single through the right side to score Dickerson in the sixth and later scored on an error to push the La Salle advantage to 5-2.
• The Paladins threatened with two runners on and one out in the bottom of the sixth, but freshman starter Gabe Rappa struck the final batter of the inning out to preserve the three-run lead.
• Furman got a run back on a sacrifice fly in the seventh to make it 5-3 before freshman Jordan Morales ended the inning with a strikeout swinging.
• Morales went on for the ninth and struck out the final batter of the game looking to earn a save in his La Salle debut.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Rappa allowed just one earned run on five hits over six innings while striking out five to collect the win on the mound.
• Morales was equally as effective in relief, striking out five over three innings while giving up just two hits and no earned runs.
• Smith went 3-for-4 with two runs and an RBI to pace the offense. Guckin, O'Day and Dickerson each tallied two hits apiece as well.

UP NEXT

• The Explorers will look to win the series in the final game at Furman Sunday at 1 p.m.