Box Score Hanover, MD – As the calendar transitions into March, often seen as a checkpoint in the college baseball season, La Salle is yet to lose a weekend game.The Explorers swept their third-consecutive weekend series to open the season on Sunday with an 8-7 victory over Coppin State, improving to 8-2 on the first day of the second calendar month of the season.

La Salle's only two loses have come in close midweek games.

Making his first-career collegiate start, freshman Michael Olender made sure his first hit in college was an impactful one, as his go-ahead RBI single in the sixth inning gave La Salle a 4-3 lead that it would not relent.

Olender was one of four Explorers to drive in one run, while Jayden Novak drove in three to lead the offense, which came alive after being shutout into the fifth inning to post all eight runs in the fifth thorough eighth innings.

Coppin State rallied for three in the bottom of the eighth to make it a one-run game, 8-7, but Chase Forester came in to stop the bleeding, aided by a crucial caught-stealing from Novak to nail the tying-run with one out in the eighth.

Titus Shay remained unscored upon this season, posting his fourth shutout appearance with a one-inning save to seal the deal in the ninth.

Coppin State broke the ice in the fourth inning with a three spot, forcing La Salle to chip away in the middle innings. The Explorers' rally started with two in the fifth, as Novak and Alec Welshans drew bases-loaded walks to cut the deficit to 3-2.

La Salle carried the momentum into the sixth, tying the game on Justin Szestowicki's fielder's choice groundout with runners on second and third. Next batter Olender then singled to right field to make it 4-3, and Novak kept the line moving by doubling both home to make it 6-3.

Coppin State got a run back on a passed ball in the bottom of the sixth, but La Salle again responded when Ryan Perez singled home brother Daniel Perez in the top of the seventh.

Novak scored on an errant throw fielder's choice in the eighth which at the time felt like a comfortable insurance run, but ended up winning the game for La Salle, as Coppin State rallied for three in the bottom of the eighth and had the tying run on base with only one out.

That runner was quickly eliminated, though, thanks to caught stealing, catcher Novak to shortstop Szestowicki, and freshman Forester got the next batter to fly out to end the inning and the threat.

Shawn Karpaitis was the pitcher of record when La Salle jumped ahead in the fifth. After a start on Tuesday, the righty when 2 1/3 out of the bullpen Sunday to hold the lead, allowing just one run on two strikeouts.

Freshman Chris Gist posted the second scoreless appearance to open his collegiate career, holding the lead in the with a zero in the seventh.

La Salle has the week off before facing their biggest test of the season to date, with a four-game trip to No. 15 Clemson next weekend.