PHILADELPHIA (Interstat) — The La Salle Explorers erupted for six runs across the first two innings and never looked back, cruising to a 14-4 victory over the Manhattan Jaspers in a non-conference baseball game Tuesday evening at Hank DeVincent Field.

The game, played under the lights, saw the Explorers’ offense overwhelm the Jaspers from the outset, capitalizing on early control issues by Manhattan pitching to build an insurmountable lead. La Salle improved its season record to 18-23, while Manhattan fell to 14-21.

The most important sequence of the game came in the bottom of the first and second innings, where La Salle transformed an early deficit into a commanding lead. After Manhattan was held scoreless in the top of the first, La Salle immediately answered against Jaspers starter Preston Tamm. The Explorers batted around, scoring three runs on just two hits but leveraging two walks, a hit batter and a passed ball. Alec Welshans delivered a key RBI single to make it 3-0.

La Salle then broke the game open in the second inning against reliever Landon Kuntzelman. Following a hit-by-pitch to Chase Swain, designated hitter Carter Groen launched a two-run home run to left field. Welshans followed two batters later with a solo shot, his own blast to left, capping a three-run frame that extended the Explorers’ advantage to 6-0. That early outburst set the tone for the remainder of the contest.

Groen, La Salle’s top star, finished 3 for 4 with the two-run homer, a double, two RBIs and three runs scored. His performance highlighted a potent 11-hit attack for the Explorers. Justin Szestowicki added two hits and two RBIs, while Nico Amecangelo provided a two-run single as a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning to cap the scoring.

Manhattan’s offense was stifled for much of the afternoon, managing only four hits. The Jaspers did not get on the board until the sixth inning when Andreaus Lewis hit a solo home run. They mounted their only significant threat in the seventh, when pinch-hitter Jackson Babione connected for a three-run homer off reliever Sebastian Perez, cutting the La Salle lead to 9-4. That rally was quickly extinguished, however, and La Salle responded with five runs over the next two innings to put the game out of reach.

La Salle’s pitching was dominant after starter Dante Edwardi navigated three innings, allowing no runs on one hit with two strikeouts. The bullpen combination of Chase Forester, Connor Collora, Sebastian Perez and Dylan Duke combined for six innings of relief, surrendering just three hits and one earned run while striking out five. Forester earned the win with two perfect innings of work.

For Manhattan, reliever Matthew Steinberg provided a bright spot with three scoreless innings, allowing no hits and striking out three. The Jaspers used seven pitchers in total, with control and defensive miscues proving costly as La Salle capitalized on eight walks, three hit batters, two passed balls and two Manhattan errors.

The result defied the pregame projection from Interstat, whose game simulator had predicted a narrow 4-3 La Salle victory. The Explorers’ offensive explosion far exceeded that forecast.

La Salle next hosts Saint Joseph’s in a weekend series beginning Friday. Manhattan returns home to face Canisius in its next contest, also on Friday.