College Baseball
Rider University 7, Canisius College 6 (11 innings)
Canisius College 6, Rider University 3
BUFFALO, NY?The Broncs split a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference doubleheader at preseason favorite Canisius Saturday. “Overall we played pretty well,” said Rider head coach Barry Davis. “We're in position to win the series if we bring our ?A' game tomorrow.” The third game of the series is Sunday.
In the first game, junior Sean Olson (Vineland/St. Augustine Prep) was four for six, including a pair of home runs with five RBI. “Olson had a big day at the plate,” Davis said.
It was Olson's strike out, however, that won the game. Junior James Hayes (Sunrise, Fla./Piper) led off the 11th inning with a bunt single, was sacrificed to second, stole third, and scored the winning run when Olson struck out and was thrown out at first on the dropped third strike. “Hayes took charge and refused to let us lose that game,” Davis said.
Hayes pitched the final three and one-third innings for the win, his second to go along with five saves, striking out seven without allowing a hit. “Jamie showed great leadership and almost single-handedly held down the fort.”
Hayes, freshman Mason Heyne (Shrewsbury, Pa./Susquehannock) and freshman John Ralston (Annandale, Va./Paul VI) all had two of Rider's 13 hits in the first game. Hayes scored three runs.
Canisius tied the score at 6-6 in the eighth inning off of junior Mike Petrowski (Hamilton Square, N.J./Steinert), who pitched seven and two-thirds innings, striking out nine. “Petrowski threw excellent,” Davis said.
Olson hit a three-run home run in the fifth inning, his second home run of the game, fifth of the season and the 12th of his career, to give Rider a 6-2 lead.
Canisius scored three runs in the fifth inning on three hits, a walk, a sacrifice fly and a pair of wild pitches to cut the lead to 6-5.
Olson hit a two-out solo home run in the first inning to give the Broncs a 1-0 lead. Olson and Heyne hit RBI singles in the third inning to give Rider a 3-0 lead.
Canisius cut the lead to 3-2 in the third on a two-run home run by Adam Donato, who had three hits in the first game but struck out for the final out of the game.
In the second game, Canisius (21-3, 4-1 MAAC) scored in each of the first five innings. “They swing the bats,” Davis said. “They are a dangerous team.”
Rider (13-12, 4-4 MAAC) cut the lead to 6-3 in the sixth inning on a sacrifice fly by freshman Carlo Petrillo (Norristown, Pa./Kennedy-Kenrick). “Their kid made a ?Willie Mays' catch on that ball,” Davis said. “If he doesn't we score a couple more and we're right there.”
Canisius took a 3-2 lead with a run in the second inning on three hits, went up 4-2 in the third with a two-out, solo home run, took a 5-2 lead in the fourth and a 6-2 lead in the fifth.
Rider tied the score at 2-2 in the second inning with two runs on four hits, including an RBI single by sophomore Nick Wojnowski (Baldwin, Md./Calvert Hall).
Canisius took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on two hits, including an RBI triple.
Ralston had two of Rider's seven hits in the second game off of Canisius pitcher Shane Davis, who improved to 6-0. “I can see why he hasn't lost,” Davis said.
Canisius entered the doubleheader as one of just three teams in the nation (along with Miami and Arizona State) with two or fewer losses. “They're a good ball club, no question,” Davis said.
Canisius won nine straight games, its longest streak since 1986, before Saturday. “We were fortunate to beat them and hopefully we can do it again tomorrow,” Davis said.
Canisius has already surpassed its win total of 2007 (20). Canisius ranks second in the nation in batting average (.355) and eighth in runs per game (9.7).
Rider has now won 22 of the 31 meetings with Canisius. The Broncs look to make it 23 of 32 Sunday.
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