PHILADELPHIA (Interstat) — In a wild and record-setting season opener defined by a staggering 37-run outburst, the La Salle Explorers routed the Maryland-Eastern Shore Hawks 27-10 on Friday afternoon at Hank DeVincent Field.

The game, which saw the teams combine for 25 hits and 25 walks, was effectively decided in a chaotic first two innings where 31 total runs crossed the plate. La Salle improved to 1-0 while Maryland-Eastern Shore began its season 0-1.

The most important sequence of the game came in the bottom of the first inning, which completely reversed the contest’s early narrative. The Hawks had taken a seemingly commanding 10-0 lead before recording an out in the top of the first, capitalizing on a parade of La Salle walks and hit batters to plate all 10 runs. However, the Explorers responded with an immediate and devastating counterpunch in their half of the frame.

Facing an enormous deficit, La Salle sent 14 batters to the plate in the bottom of the first. The Explorers patiently worked six walks and were hit by four pitches, while also benefiting from two Maryland-Eastern Shore errors. Key two-run singles from J. Novak and Diego Perez fueled an eight-run inning, cutting the Hawks’ lead to 10-8 and completely shifting the game’s momentum before many in the afternoon crowd had settled in.

La Salle did not relent. After Maryland-Eastern Shore was held scoreless in the top of the second, the Explorers’ offense continued its onslaught in the bottom half. AJ Welshans launched a two-run homer to left field to tie the game at 10-10. Later in the inning, Connor Groen cleared the bases with a three-run double to right-center, part of a five-run frame that gave La Salle a 13-10 lead it would not relinquish.

The Explorers’ offense was relentless, scoring in each of the first seven innings. Welshans finished with three RBIs, while Groen drove in four. Ryan Livingston and Diego Perez each contributed three RBIs, with Perez adding a solo home run in the sixth inning. Every La Salle starter reached base at least once, with the team drawing 15 walks overall.

Maryland-Eastern Shore was led offensively by Diego Aponte, who had three hits and two RBIs. Darrius Brown added two hits and an RBI, and Henry Clausell drove in a run. The Hawks’ 10 hits were overshadowed by defensive struggles, as the team committed six errors leading to 11 unearned runs for La Salle.

Pitching was a struggle for both sides, with the teams combining to use eight hurlers. La Salle’s Jack Novak, who entered as a reliever in the second inning, earned the win after stabilizing the game for the Explorers. Maryland-Eastern Shore starter J. Stepner took the loss, unable to record an out in the bottom of the first after being staked to the 10-run lead.

Interstat’s ELO system had projected La Salle with an 84.70 percent probability to win prior to the game.

The two teams are scheduled to continue their three-game series on Saturday and Sunday at Hank DeVincent Field. Maryland-Eastern Shore will then travel to face Virginia Military Institute next weekend, while La Salle hosts a midweek game against Delaware on Tuesday.