PHILADELPHIA -- The La Salle University baseball team used a seven-run fourth inning to turn a 5-3 deficit into a 10-5 lead on its way to downing the University of Delaware, 11-8, in Philadelphia on Wednesday afternoon.

Alex Buchholz led the way for the Delaware with a home run among his three hits. Dan Richardson, Brandon Menchaca and Bryan Hagerich added two hits apiece for the Hens.

The Hens (10-7, 0-3 CAA) took advantage of early La Salle mistakes to take the lead in the first inning. Todd Davison reached second base when his popup fell in following a collision of two Explorers. Davison then advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on Menchaca’s infield single. The Hens added two more runs in the second before La Salle took advantage of a two-base Delaware error and a single by Kenny Elkind to get on the board. The Explorers tied the game on a long two-run home run to right field by catcher Rich Prall.

The Blue Hens took a 5-3 lead in the fourth inning when the current CAA Rookie of the Week Buchholz followed Ryan Engelhardt’s two-out double with his team-leading seventh home run of the season. Trailing by two in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Explorers (5-13) pounded out seven runs on eight hits and took advantage of a Delaware error in bringing 10 batters to the plate. After scrapping together two runs on a walk, bloop single and error to start the inning, La Salle put together three consecutive extra base hits to take a 9-5 lead that it would never relinquish.

Hagerich homered for the second straight day to pull the Hens within 11-6, and then doubled to drive in Buchholz and Davison to bring the margin to 11-8 before starting centerfielder Dennis Burge got the last two outs for La Salle to end the game. Davison and Buchholz’ hitting streaks reached 17 and 12 games, respectively.

Brandon Geib started and went 5.2 innings to earn his first win of the year for La Salle, while Steve Miklas allowed six runs, four earned, in 3.1 innings in taking the loss for Delaware.

After playing five straight games on the road, the Blue Hens return home for a weekend conference series against Northeastern. First pitch on Friday from Bob Hannah Stadium is set for 3 p.m.

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