PHILADELPHIA – The University of Pennsylvania baseball team saw a late comeback fall just short as the Quakers dropped a midweek game against La Salle.
PENN 6, LA SALLE 7
WP: Mike Jenkins (4-0)
LP: Brendan Bean (0-1)
NOTES
*Sean Phelan had a monster day at the plate, going 4-for-5 with two RBI, a double, and a home run.
*Three Penn players tripled today, with
Josh Hood,
Matt McGeagh, and
Tommy Courtney all reaching third with one swing of the bat.
*All five of Penn's pitchers today struck at least one batter out.
Jacob Sadowitz headlined the day with three K's,
Brendan Bean and
Kevin Eaise struck out two, and
Grant Guillory and
Dylan Mulvihill each got one K.
*
Craig Larsen continued to tally up the RBI this season as a sac fly in the first inning has him at 42 on the season—the leading number for both Penn and the Ivy League.
*
Matt O'Neill drew two walks today and has reached base on balls 32 times this season. He ranks tenth in the nation with a .531 on-base percentage.
*Eaise had another shutout appearance today. He pitched 1.1 innings of relief with no hits, no walks, and two strikeouts.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Penn jumped on the board first with a pair of runs in the top of the first inning. The first pitch of the day plunked Matt, O'Neill drew a walk, then Phelan singled to load the bases. Larsen hit a sac fly to right, driving in Matt. Adams then singled to right center to bring O'Neill home and give the Quakers a 2-0 lead.
La Salle responded in the bottom half of the inning. After a pair of singles, a three-run home run by Faso gave the Explorers a 3-2 lead. The hosts added onto their lead in the bottom of the second as a two-out RBI single made it 4-2.
The Quakers cut into the Explorers' lead in the top of the third. After Adams reached on a fielder's choice, Hood tripled to left center to cut the deficit to one. La Salle extended its lead back to two in the fourth, however, as an RBI single in the fourth gave the Explorers a 5-3 lead.
La Salle extended its lead in the sixth. An RBI triple gave the hosts a three-run lead, then the Explorers' baserunner scored from third after a catcher interference call to make it 7-3.
The Quakers began to cut into La Salle's lead in the bottom of the eighth. Courtney tripled to center then was driven in after an RBI single by O'Neill. Phelan then brought Penn within one with a two-run home run to right field to make it 7-6.
Penn could not muster any further offense though, as four straight outs after the home run halted the attempted comeback.
WHAT'S NEXT
The Quakers continue their Ivy League slate as Penn hosts Yale for a three-game set starting with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 20 starting at 11:30 a.m.
