Box Score

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The La Salle baseball team loaded the bases in the ninth with the tying run 180 feet away but the Explorers could not push across a run, falling to #19/20 San Diego, 5-3, in the series finale on Sunday. Senior Jeff Flax went 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI while sophomore George Smith, Jr. had two hits.

USD (29-8) got on the board with two runs in the third but La Salle followed with a run in the fourth. Flax led off the inning with a single, moved to second on senior Brendan Norton's walk and advanced to third on a balk. Senior Adam Kammler then drove him home with a sacrifice fly to make it 2-1.

The Toreros answered with a run to extend the lead to 3-2 but once again the Explorers tacked on a run to cut the deficit to one.

A two-out single by Smith kept the inning alive and after junior Joe Bennie was hit by a pitch, Flax singled through the left side for an RBI.

San Diego added another run and La Salle was held scoreless until the seventh. Junior Dan Klem led off with a single and Smith singled as well. The pair moved into scoring position on Bennie's bunt and Flax lofted a sacrifice fly to make it 4-3.

Unfortunately for the Explorer faithful, USD plated a run in the bottom of the inning to extend the lead to 5-3.

The Blue and Gold attempted a rally in the ninth when Smith walked with one out and Bennie and Flax each singled to load the bases. The nation's save leader, Michael Wagner, nailed down his 18^th of the season with a strikeout and fielder's choice.

Jack Shannon (1-0) earned the win with 1.2 innings of scoreless relief for the Toreros, who won their sixth straight.

Senior Kevin Christy suffered the loss after allowing three earned runs in six innings. He struck out four. Junior Pat Christensen, from nearby La Jolla, pitched the final two innings.

La Salle (16-19) returns to the diamond on Wednesday at Villanova at 3:15 PM.