Rickards hit solo home runs in the both the fourth and eighth innings, but it was his three-run shot in the ninth off Hawk reliever Mark Imbo that was the difference in the game. In all, Rickards was 4-for-5 on the day with three runs scored and five RBI, helping La Salle win its six game in its last seven at home. With the three round trippers, Rickards became the first Explorer since Brian Oakes to hit three home runs in one game (Oakes hit three against Delaware State, April 22, 2003).

Saint Joseph’s (11-20, 3-3 A-10) jumped out to an early lead by using small ball and benefiting from a pair of La Salle errors to open the scoring in the third. Ben Wendle was hit by a pitch to start the inning and moved to second on a hit-and-run single by Mike Blahusch. Chris Cashman moved the pair over a base with a sacrifice bunt and each scored on the Explorers’ first error of the inning on Tim Smith’s groundball.

Dustin Onulak singled to put runners at the corners before another La Salle miscue plated another Hawk run. Mike Godusky singled to drive in the fourth run of the inning, which gave the Hawks a 4-0 lead.

La Salle (9-16, 4-2 A-10) answered back with two runs of its own in the bottom of the inning. With two outs, Ken Elkind singled off the pitcher’s glove and Bill Kern drew a walk. Rich Prall hit an RBI-single up the middle, scoring Elkind and moving Kern to third, who then scored on a passed ball.

Wendle hit a solo home run to lead off the fourth inning, pushing the Hawk lead to 5-2, but the Explorers answered right back with two more in the bottom of the fourth, but it could have been a lot more.

Rickards hit his first home run to lead off the inning, and La Salle scored another two-out run. Elkind hit an RBI single scoring George Hudock and moved Mike Essery to third base, before Kern was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Prall. He jumped on the first pitch, lining it towards Hawk third baseman Adriano Petrutz, who dove to his left and to make the catch, preserving the Saint Joseph’s lead at 5-4.

After loading the bases with just one out in the sixth, the Hawks looked as if they would break the game wide open. They plated a run when Smith drew a walk to score Wendle, but La Salle’s John Reifsnyder came in for relief and forced Onulak into a double play to end the threat.

The Explorers tied the score in the bottom of the eighth inning on back-to-back solo home runs by Rickards and Hudock. The Rickards’ shot chased Hawk starter Jason Hessler, and Hudock hit his off Imbo.