Box Score CHARLESTON, S.C. – LaSalle's Cameron Johnson doubled home Ethan Springston in the top of the 15th inning as the Explorers topped Charleston Southern, 9-8, on Sunday afternoon at CSU Ballpark.
The game ties the longest in CSU history, matching games played in 1968 and 2014. LaSalle claims the weekend series with the win and improves to 4-3 overall, while the Buccaneers fall to 4-2.
CSU left 18 runners on base and couldn't come up with the decisive hit after rallying from a late 8-4 deficit to force extra innings. LaSalle left only six on base.
"It's frustrating," CSU head coach Stuart Lake said after almost a five hours of play. "We had some things work against us, but still had opportunities to win. I like the toughness we showed to rally, but you have to find a way to finish too."
The loss spoiled a strong start from Denis Buckley, who work 6.1 innings, surrendering one earned run and striking out five. Evan Raynor (LP, 0-1) took the loss, but struck out six and gave up only one run in four extra innings of work.
After Buckley matched a LaSalle "staff" day to keep things scoreless into the sixth, CSU finally broke through. Andrew Widell, Robbie Streett, and Sam Remick all doubled to score the Bucs' first two runs in the bottom of the sixth.
LaSalle answered back in the bottom of the seventh. Michael Flax reached on a swinging bunt single to set the stage for Josh Savakinus. The Explorers third baseman lined a two-run home run to right field off of Bucs' reliever Chayce Hubbard to knot the game at 2-2.
Widell ripped a two-run home run to right center in the seventh to give CSU the lead right back at 4-2.
LaSalle came right back in the eighth. Ryan Welling followed a leadoff walk with a two-run home run off of Wil Hartsell to make it 4-4.
The Explorers seemingly broke the game open in the eighth, pushing their lead to 8-4 with six runs in the inning. CSU walked three to help their cause.
The Bucs rallied back to force extra innings as Chase Shelton has a two-run single and Brandon Burris had an RBI single with two outs in the ninth to tie the game at 8-8.
The Bucs left eight runner on base in extra innings, including loading the bases with one out in the 11th, but LaSalle's Mark Williams (WP, 1-0) came on to get Nate Blanchard to ground into a fielder's choice at the plate and struck out Hannifin.
Three Bucs – Widell, Hannifin, and Murphy – set a new school record with eight at-bats in a single game.
In all, LaSalle used nine pitchers in the game, while CSU used six. The Bucs outhit the Explorers 16-12 in the game.
CSU reliever Joe Pistacchio gave up two hits and struck out three in three innings pitched. Streett was 3-for-4 and scored twice, while Remick added a 2-for-5 effort.
Welling was 3-for-6 for LaSalle with two RBI and a run scored.
Charleston Southern returns to action on Tuesday night at CSU Ballpark at 6 p.m. against Furman.
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