Kingston, R.I. – Trailing by nine runs entering the top of the ninth, La Salle mounted an impressive rally which would fall as short as having the potential tying run on deck in a 9-6 loss in Sunday's series rubber game against Rhode Island.
With one out in the ninth, no one on base, and La Salle trailing, 9-0,
Chase Swain,
Carter Groen, and
Ryan Perez worked consecutive walks to load the bases and set the table.
Next batter Ruben Livingston singled to bring home the Explorers' first run of the afternoon, and then
Alec Welshans and
Kosei Suzuki drew consecutive bases-loaded hit by pitches to make it a 9-3 deficit. After Suzuki's hit by pitch, a passed ball allowed everyone to move up and score Livingston.
Jayden Novak kept the line moving with a two-run double to left center to make it 9-6, still with only one out.
Rhode Island's Manny Santos entered after Novak's double and retired the next two batters, however, before the Explorers could get the heart of the order to bat around.
Rhode Island had plated a pair of runs in the first and second innings, added one in the fifth, and plated a pair again in the sixth and eighth to build the 9-0 lead.
La Salle does not play a midweek game this week, as the Explorers return home to host Fordham for a weekend set at Hank DeVincent Field Friday-Sunday.
