PHILADELPHIA – The La Salle University baseball team suffered a heartbreaking 4-2, extra-inning loss in the opening game of an Atlantic 10 doubleheader against Rhode Island on Saturday afternoon. The second half of the doubleheader saw the Rams jump out to a 9-0 lead and, despite a valiant comeback effort by the Explorers, eventually took a 12-6 decision.
Game 1 – Rhode Island 4, La Salle 2 (8 inn.)
- A solo home run by Sonny Ulliana in the top of the first inning gave the visitors an early lead, an advantage that held until the bottom of the fifth.
- URI starter Mike Webb was perfect through four innings, striking out four Explorers before a leadoff walk to Jack Cucinotta in the fifth.
- An error allowed the next batter to reach and, after a groundout advanced both runners, Nick Di Vietro came through with a two-run single to move the home team in front, 2-1.
- The visitors responded the next half inning, as Ulliana worked a leadoff walk and came around to score on a RBI double by Xavier Vargas.
- The originally-scheduled seven-inning game moved to extra innings, with URI scoring two runs thanks to consecutive doubles by Ulliana and Vargas.
- Webb worked a perfect eighth to record his third win of the year, while freshman Frank Elissalt was the tough-luck loser for the Explorers.
Game 2 – Rhode Island 12, La Salle 6
- The Rams got their offense going early, tallying three runs in the second and eventually working to a 9-0 lead through five innings of play.
- La Salle mounted a rally in the sixth, scoring four times thanks to Cucinotta's run-scoring double and a two-run triple by Di Vietro.
- URI answered right back, scoring three more times in the top of the seventh to put the score at 12-4.
- Freshman Will Binder doubled home sophomore Connor Coolahan in the seventh and would eventually score on a wild pitch, but it was not enough.
UP NEXT
- The Explorers will look for split with URI as they conclude the weekend series on Sunday, April 11 at 2:00 p.m.