PHILADELPHIA (Interstat) — In a stark reversal of pregame projections, the La Salle Explorers delivered a commanding shutout performance, blanking the Penn Quakers 8-0 in nonconference baseball action Tuesday evening at Hank DeVincent Field.

The result defied the statistical expectations, as Interstat’s game simulator had projected a 6-3 Penn victory, with its ELO system giving the Quakers a 65.3% probability to win. Instead, La Salle’s pitching staff combined on a three-hit shutout, and the Explorers capitalized on four Penn errors to pull away.

The game’s decisive moment arrived in the top of the fourth inning. With La Salle leading 1-0 on a third-inning sacrifice fly by Justin Szest, the Explorers loaded the bases with two outs against Penn reliever Cerwinski, who succeeded starter Benjamin Moulin. Moulin had allowed one earned run over three innings. After Jayden Novak popped out, Daniel Perez stepped in and cleared the bases with a three-run double to right field. All three runs were unearned, scoring after an error by the Penn shortstop extended the inning. Perez later stole third, encapsulating a frame where La Salle turned a narrow lead into a 4-0 advantage without recording a hit until Perez’s key blow.

That cushion proved more than sufficient for a dominant La Salle bullpen. Six Explorers relievers combined to throw 7 1/3 perfect innings before allowing their first baserunner. Starter Shawn Karpaitis worked two scoreless innings, and Chase Forester, Connor Collora, Lucas Edwards and Matt DeStefanis followed with hitless relief. Edwards struck out three in two innings. Penn’s offense was stifled despite drawing 11 walks and getting hit by a pitch; the Quakers grounded into three double plays and left 12 runners on base, failing to score despite putting multiple runners on in the first, fifth, sixth, eighth and ninth innings.

La Salle, which improved to 12-12, added insurance in the seventh and ninth innings, scoring four unearned runs. In the seventh, a two-out error by Penn second baseman allowed two runs to score. In the ninth, Austin Rhue delivered a two-run single to cap the scoring. The Explorers managed just six hits but drew 10 walks. Perez finished 2 for 4 with three RBIs to lead the offense.

Penn, which fell to 7-11, used eight pitchers. Thomas Egbert, Nicholas Newburn and Braden Fridgen each provided scoreless relief outings, but the early defensive miscues and an inability to hit with runners on proved insurmountable. The Quakers’ three hits were singles by Collins, Warner and Taylor.

La Salle looks to continue its momentum Wednesday at home against Saint Peter’s before opening Atlantic 10 play at George Washington this weekend. Penn, after a midweek home game against Delaware State next Tuesday, will open Ivy League play with a doubleheader at Yale on Saturday.