College Baseball
Siena College 10, Rider University 1
Siena College 4, Rider University 2
LAWRENCEVILLE?Despite five hits by junior Sean Olson (Vineland, N.J./St. Augustine Prep), the Broncs lost a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference doubleheader to Siena Saturday. “It's tough to win when you only score three runs in two games,” said Rider head coach Barry Davis. “We knew Siena was going to be pretty good. They've always been tough since I've been here.”
In the first game Siena scored three runs in the seventh inning to take a 5-1 lead, and blew the game open with five runs in the ninth on three hits and five walks. “The score was not indicative of how the first game went,” Davis said. “The big hit was the two-run home run that made it 5-1.”
Rider had cut the lead to 2-1 in the fourth inning when senior David Hayes (Sunrise, Fla./American Heritage) and Olson each singled and Hayes scored on a single by freshman Mason Heyne (Shrewsbury, Pa./Susquehannock), the MAAC Rookie of the Week the last two weeks.
D. Hayes had three of Rider's 10 hits in the first game.
In the second game Rider (24-19, 12-8 MAAC) took a 2-0 lead in the first inning when junior James Hayes (Sunrise, Fla./Piper) singled, stole second and third, and scored on a single by Olson. Olson went to second base on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI single by freshman John Ralston (Annandale, Va./Paul VI). Olson was the Rider Athlete of the Month for April and began May five for seven.
“We came out strong in game two but we gave up some opportunities to score more,” Davis said. “Give Siena credit, they made every play in the field.”
Hayes had three hits in the double header and now has 185, ninth highest ever at Rider and second highest among three-year players. Hayes also stole three bases and now has 31 on the season.
Siena (21-24, 9-8 MAAC) scored three runs in the fifth inning on five hits, including a two-run home run, to take the lead, and added an insurance run in the seventh inning with the Saints' third home run of the day. ?It seemed they scored all of their runs on home runs,” Davis said.
Senior Jon Leise (Woodbury, N.J./West Deptford), who had a pinch hit single on Wednesday, had another pinch hit single in game one and began game two Saturday with his third consecutive hit before re-injuring his hamstring. “He's had trouble with that,” Davis said. “I feel bad for him because he was playing well, with three hits in a row, and he gives you great defense.”
Leise, who now has 94 career hits, is one of three seniors who will be honored before Sunday's game, the third game of the series scheduled for 12 noon. “Tomorrow we need to find a way to salvage a game,” Davis said. “We don't have much of a choice.”
Rider entered the game in second place in the MAAC and is now fourth, while Siena entered the doubleheader tied for fifth place in the MAAC. “Today certainly hurts in the standings,” Davis said. “I think Siena is going to be a team that is going to be in the mix at the end.”
Second place Manhattan (12-5) swept sixth place Marist (7-10) Saturday. “We're still in decent shape,” Davis said. “We just need to buckle down tomorrow.”
Rider hosts the four-team MAAC Championship tournament May 22-24 at Waterfront Park. The MAAC Champion advances to one of 16 NCAA Regional Tournaments May 30.
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