By Bob Heller
USIP Sports Information Director

The young USP baseball team turned in an impressive performance yesterday, losing 1-0 at Division I LaSalle University.

The Devils outhit the Explorers 8-6 and got a solid 7 1/3 innings pitched from starter Dan Fox (So., Harriton HS/Narberth, PA). Fox gave up just one earned run and six hits while striking out six LaSalle batters.

Three of the Devils eight hits came off the bat of leadoff hitter Eric Woerheide (So., Oak forest HS/Midloathian, IL). Woerheide went 3-for-4 and raised his average up 41 points to .519. Doug Smith (Jr., Middletown HS/Middletown, PA) had two hits while Gaise Lacek (So., Lake-Lehman HS/Harvey Lakes, PA), Michael Montanero (Jr., Highland Regional HS/Sewell, NJ), and Michael DeVincenzo (Fr., Bishop Hoban HS/Plains, PA) had one hit apiece. Lacek had the Devils only extra-base hit, a two-out double in the ninth inning.

The Devils had their best opportunity to score in their first at-bat. Woerheide led off the game with a single and advanced as far as third base only to be stranded when Lacek struck out to end the inning. USP also put runners in scoring position in the sixth inning and again in the ninth but were unable to score.

The loss drops the Devils record to 4-7 overall. The Devils will take on another area Division I team, Temple University on Thursday, March 25, 2004. The Temple game will be the first game played at Temple's new ballfield in Ambler, PA.