Feb. 23, 2008

Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

ELON, NC - The La Salle University Baseball team limited its opposition to just 10 runs in a pair of games - despite allowing 17 Friday - and the offense showed signs of life, but the Explorers still dropped both games to the Phoenix, 5-3 and 5-4, Saturday.

In game one, La Salle jumped on top 1-0 when John Malloy homored on the first pitch of the day and then increased the lead to 3-0 in the third.

Shane Frangiosa singled to open the frame and moved to second when Malloy got on via an error. Justin Handler then doubled home Frangiosa and Malloy scored when John Rickards grounded out.

Elon got a run back in both the fourth and fifth innings and then took the lead on Bennett Davis' two-RBI double in the seventh. He would score on a sac fly to put the Phoenix up 5-3.

Tom Porter (1-0) earned the win in relief, Thomas Girdwood registered the save, and Kevin McGovern took the loss.  

In the second game, the Explorers erased a one-run deficit with three runs in the top of the fourth. Kevin Jones led off with a solo home run, then Mike Dertouzos followed with a single and two outs later was on third. Handler singled him home and then Handler scored on Rickards' second triple of the season.

Meanwhile, Kevin Fuqua, who allowed just the one earned run in the third in six innings of work and struck out five batters, continuted to keep Elon off the board despite five walks.

The Phoenix struck for three runs in the seventh, taking the lead back, before Dertouzos tied the game at 4-all with a solo home run to start off the top of the eighth.

Elon (3-0) scored an unearned run - the game-winner - in the bottom of the frame and Girdwood picked up his second save of the day by getting the final out of the game. Greg Jones won his first of the season, while TJ Chism suffered the loss.

La Salle (0-3) will play one more with the Phoenix, starting at 1 PM on Sunday.