HANOVER, Md. – Trailing 6-3 after five innings, the La Salle University baseball team erupted for nine runs in the sixth inning on its way to a 16-8 win at Coppin State on Wednesday.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Sophomore Elijah Dickerson gave La Salle a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a solo home run, his third of the season.
• Coppin State answered right back though and plated two in the bottom half to jump in front by a run.
• Redshirt sophomore Nick Di Vietro scored on a wild pitch to tie the game at two apiece in the second, but the Eagles tallied two more runs in the bottom of the frame to take a 4-2 lead.
• Graduate student Ryan Guckin cut into the deficit in the third inning, hitting an RBI single to score Dickerson, making it 4-3.
• However, Coppin State responded with a run in the third and another in the fourth to jump in front by three, 6-3.
• The game completely shifted in the sixth inning as La Salle hammered home nine runs on eight hits to suddenly gain full control.
• Sophomore Connor Coolahan scored on an error after a double by Di Vietro and then freshman Will Binder followed with his first career home run, a two-run shot that tied the game at six all.
• Senior Jack Cucinotta then gave the Explorers a 9-6 advantage with a three-run double down the left field line. Cucinotta scored on an RBI single by Coolahan, Guckin scored on a wild pitch and Coolahan crossed the plate on a RBI bunt single by sophomore John DeMucci to open up a 12-6 lead.
• The Eagles cut it to a four-run difference with two runs in the sixth, but the Explorers got insurance runs in the seventh on a bases-loaded walk by Binder and an RBI single by DeMucci and another in the eighth on an RBI single by Guckin.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• DeMucci had a career day at the plate, going 4-for-6 with three RBI and a double.
• Dickerson continued his hot streak with a 3-for-7 day with four runs, a double and a stolen base to go with the long ball. Guckin (2-5, 2 RBI, R) and junior Tatem Levins (2-6, 2 R) also had multi-hit games as the Explorers tallied 15 hits.
• Senior Mike Jenkins picked up his first win of the season after tossing two scoreless innings of relief with three strikeouts on a day when eight La Salle pitchers were used.
• The Explorers finished off a 10-game road stretch with a 7-3 mark and have won nine of their last 12 games.

UP NEXT

• The Explorers (13-9) will finally return home for its Atlantic 10 opener on Friday when they start a four-game series with Rhode Island. Game one on Friday is set to be streamed on ESPN+ with first pitch slated for 3 p.m.