Box Score

PHILADELPHIA - Senior Richard Larson threw six strong innings to earn his first win of the season and sophomore Christian Saveri pitched East Stroudsburg University out of a four-run ninth inning as the Warriors held on for a 7-6 victory at Philadelphia University on Wednesday.

Larson gave up two runs on two hits and struck out five in his first start of the year, and ESU (10-13) built a 5-2 lead through the first five innings.

Junior Mike Bortz hit a two-run home run, his fourth of the season, to give the Warriors a 7-2 cushion in the top of the ninth before Philadelphia mounted its comeback.

Saveri entered with a 7-5 lead with one out, the tying run at second base and the cleanup hitter at the plate. He got a fly ball for the second out before the Rams pulled within one run on a wild pitch, but induced a ground ball to sophomore Anthony Clemens at third for the final out of the game to nail down his third save of the season.

ESU went ahead 2-0 with a pair of unearned runs in the second before Philadelphia tied the game in the bottom of the third.

Sophomore Brendan O'Malley was hit by a pitch, his second of the game, with the bases loaded to bring home a run in the fourth, and the Warriors scored twice in the fifth to take a 5-2 advantage.

Junior Mike Walker didn't allow a hit in the seventh or eighth inning in relief of Larson before giving way to freshman Tom Admire in the ninth.

The Warriors begin PSAC East play this weekend against Mansfield, opening on the road on Friday before hosting the Mounties in the home opener on Saturday at 1 p.m.