PHILADELPHIA — La Salle waited nearly five years for this moment. When it arrived, the Explorers made up for lost time.
In the program’s first game since 2021, La Salle erupted for one of the most prolific offensive performances in school history, defeating Maryland Eastern Shore 27-10 in seven innings Friday at Hank DeVincent Field.
The 27 runs tied for the second-most in a single game in program history, matching a mark last reached in 1981. For a program reintroduced to Division I competition this season, it was an emphatic return on a cold February afternoon at 20th and Olney.
La Salle (1-0) sent 14 batters to the plate in the bottom of the first inning and scored eight runs, setting the tone immediately. Daniel Perez delivered a run-scoring hit in the frame, and Chase Swain added another as the Explorers capitalized on four hit batters and two walks.
Maryland Eastern Shore (0-1) answered with eight runs in the second to tie the game, but La Salle quickly regained control.
Alec Welshans launched a two-run home run over the left-field wall in the bottom of the second to put the Explorers back in front. Later in the inning, Carter Groen delivered a three-run double as La Salle surged to a 13-7 lead.
From there, the offense never slowed.
The Explorers added four runs in the fourth inning and six more in the fifth, highlighted by extra-base hits from Ryan Albin, Swain and Jayden Novak. Perez capped the scoring with a solo home run in the sixth, giving La Salle two homers on the day.
In all, La Salle pounded out 19 hits and drew steady traffic on the bases. Perez and graduate shortstop Justin Szestowicki each had three hits to lead a balanced lineup. Groen drove in four runs, while Welshans and Perez each homered and drove in three. Rueben Livingston also plated three runs, and Albin and Swain added two RBIs apiece.
La Salle’s lineup produced across the board. Novak collected two doubles, and the Explorers finished with six extra-base hits while leaving just six runners on base.
On the mound, junior right-hander Shawn Karpaitis provided stability out of the bullpen. Entering with the bases loaded and no outs in the third inning and La Salle holding a 13-7 lead, Karpaitis induced a double play and recorded a strikeout to escape the jam. He went on to throw five innings, allowing one run on three hits while striking out three to earn the win.
Kross Howarth made the start, and Sebastian Perez also saw action in relief as La Salle combined to hold Maryland Eastern Shore to 10 runs on 10 hits. The Explorers committed no errors defensively.
The game was called after seven innings with La Salle leading by 17 runs.
The opener showcased the depth of a roster built with veterans and newcomers alike. Transfers and returners anchored the heart of the lineup, while freshmen and redshirt players made immediate contributions in their Division I debuts.
La Salle will continue its season-opening series against Maryland Eastern Shore on Saturday at 10 a.m. Graduate left-hander Owen MacDonnell is scheduled to start for the Explorers.
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