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Philadelphia, PA - La Salle (3-11) plated the eventual winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning to defeat Wagner (2-10) 8-7 in non-conference action at DeVincent Field. Junior
Ian Miller (Downingtown, PA / Bishop Shanahan) notched two hits and senior
Nick Alfano (Coral Springs, FL / North Broward Prep) had three RBI to lead the way for the Seahawks at the Big Five Baseball Bash.
The Explorers jumped out to the early lead with runs in each of the first and second innings.
Wagner then exploded for five runs while batting around in the top of the third inning.
Trailing 2-0 in the top of the third, Wagner exploded for five unearned runs while sending nine batters to the plate. Sophomore Jason Gordon (Baltimore, MD / Archbiship Curley) led off with a walk, before moving to second when junior Shaun Flynn (Tabernacle, NJ / Seneca / Burlington County College) reached on a two-out error by the shortstop. Alfano picked the pair up with a two-run single. After a Chris Smith (Jr., Tampa, FL / Freedom (Ellsworth Community College (IA)) walk, sophomore Nick Dini (Monroe Township, NJ / Monroe Township) blasted a two-run double that plated both runs while giving the Seahawks a 4-2 lead. Senior Jayson Keel (Starkville, MS / Starkville / Holmes CC) capped the five-run with a RBI triple to make it a 5-2 game.
The Green & White added to the lead one inning later when Miller scored Gordon with the first of his two hits on the day.
With Wagner still leading 6-2 in the bottom of the sixth, La Salle scored five runs on four hits while reclaiming the lead at 7-6.
The Seahawks would immediately tie it up at 7-7 in the top of the seventh inning as Miller opened up the frame with a single. After stealing second, he advanced to third on a ground out, before scoring on an Alfano ground out. The Green & White would continue to threaten, loading up the bases only to be denied when reliever Pat Christensen recorded the first of his four strikeouts.
La Salle grabbed the lead in the top of the eighth inning with an unearned run when Brandon Day scored with two outs on a strikeout as the ball got past the catcher.
Wagner had one last chance to tie it up in the top of the ninth as Flynn reached via a leadoff error, before moving to second on an Alfano sacrifice. Unfortunately, Day struck out the final two batters he faced in giving the Explorers the come-from-behind win.
Senior RHP Dakota Dvorak (Pompano Beach, FL / North Broward Prep) was the tough-luck loser, allowing one unearned run over 2.1 hitless frames with two strikeouts.
All told, Dvorak, junior Ryan Casey (Paramus, NJ / St. Joseph Regional) and sophomore RHP Anthony Battaglia (Staten Island, NY / St. Joseph By The Sea) combined to strike out six, against just one walk, on the day.
Dan Klem paced a 12-hit Explorer attack, going 3-for-3 with four RBI two doubles and two runs as Christensen (2-1) struck out four over 2.1 hitless frames in earning the victory.
The Seahawks returns to action tomorrow at Saint Joseph's with first pitch slated for 1:00 pm. Click HERE for the live stats link and HERE for the free audio stream.
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Photography by Dave Saffran
