College Baseball
Liberty University 4, Rider University 3
LYNCHBURG, VA?In a battle of undefeated teams, the Broncs lost at Liberty Friday afternoon. “We battled back and got back into the game,” said Rider head coach Barry Davis. “We did some good things against a good team, we just didn't have enough.”
Liberty (5-0) took a 4-3 lead in the seventh inning on a lead-off home run by the ninth hitter, shortstop Aaron Phillips.
The Broncs (3-1) tied the score at 3-3 in the seventh inning on an RBI single by senior Jon Leise (Woodbury, N.J./West Deptford), scoring sophomore Matt McCollum (Tabernacle, N.J./Shawnee). McCollum reached base on a single and stole second before scoring the tying run. “Leise came up with a big hit,” Davis said.
Rider cut the lead to 3-2 in the sixth inning when freshman A.J. Albee (Ashley, Pa./Hanover Area) singled and scored on a single by junior Sean Olson (Vineland, N.J./St. Augustine Prep) and a Liberty error. Olson then scored on a sacrifice fly by freshman Mason Heyne (Shrewsbury, Pa./Susquehannock).
Sophomore Kris Brown (Vineland, N.J./Vineland) pitched the scoreless eighth inning for Rider and recorded a pair of strike outs. Brown now has seven strike outs in three innings of work this season. “Brown again threw the ball well,” Davis said. “He came in and did exactly what we wanted him to do.”
Liberty scored two runs on three hits in the third inning, all three hits coming with two outs, and took a 3-0 lead in the fourth inning on a squeeze bunt.
Junior James Hayes (Sunrise, Fla./Piper) collected a single in the third inning, while junior Maurice Williams (Ocean, N.J./Monmouth Regional) and freshman John Ralston (Annandale, Va./Paul VI) both singled in the fifth for Rider.
Junior Mike Petrowski (Hamilton Square, N.J./Steinert) started and pitched five innings, allowing three runs on six hits while striking out four. Petrowski struck out two batters in the first inning, including a two-out K with runners on second and third. “Mike's pitch count got up a little high (85 pitches) so we took him out,” Davis said, “but he threw fine.”
Freshman Mike Thomas (Forest Hill, Md./Fallston) suffered the loss in relief, pitching the sixth and seventh innings.
The Broncs began the 2006 season at Liberty, losing all three games.
The Broncs play the second game of the three game series at Liberty Saturday at 2pm. “We've got to come back tomorrow and play better,” Davis said. “hopefully we'll get a few more hits.”
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