College Baseball
Rider University 17, Maryland Eastern Shore 2 (9 inn)
Rider University 11, Maryland Eastern Shore 7 (6 inn)
PRINCESS ANNE, MD?The Broncs swept UMES in the 2009 season opening doubleheader Saturday. “We played better in the first game, but we won both, so that's a good way to start the season,' said Rider head coach Barry Davis. “It went well today.”
Rider senior James Hayes Sunrise, Fla./Piper) had five hits and five RBI in the doubleheader, while senior Sean Olson (Vineland, N.J./St. Augustine Prep) added three hits and five RBI. “Olson and Jamie had some big hits for us today,' Davis said.
Junior Matt McCollum (Tabernacle, N.J./Shawnee) also had five RBI in the doubleheader. “We certainly swung the bat today,” Davis said. “McCollum had a big hit.”
In the first game senior Jimmer Kennedy (Levittown, Pa./Holy Ghost Prep) pitched six innings and struck out four, allowing one earned run, while the Bronc offense exploded for 10 runs in the second inning. The victory was the 18th career win for Kennedy. “Jimmer pitched tough,” Davis said. “He certainly isn't at mid-season form yet, but for the first time out he threw well. He located his fastball. He only walked one. He was solid. We certainly got enough runs for him. That second inning opened the door for us.”
Sophomore John Ralston (Annandale, Va./Paul VI) had four hits and scored three runs in the first game and McCollum had a double and three RBI. Sophomore A.J. Albee (Ashley, Pa./Hanover Area) doubled and tripled. “Ralston had a big first game for us,” Davis said.
Hayes led off the first inning of the season with a walk and scored on a triple by sophomore Steve Galella (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./G.A.R. Memorial).
Ralston hit an RBI single in the sixth inning and scored on a triple by Albee to give Rider a 14-2 lead, and an RBI single by Galella made it 15-2.
Galella scored on a single by Olson and the Broncs led 2-0 before making an out. Hayes' RBI single in the seventh inning gave Rider a 17-2 lead, his third hit and third RBI of the game.
In the second inning a two-run single by sophomore Mason Heyne (Shrewsbury, Pa./Susquehannock) made it 7-0. McCollum hit a two-run double in his second at bat of the inning to give Rider an 11-0 lead and the Broncs led 12-0 after two.
Ralston singled in his first at bat of the season and advanced to third on a double by Albee. McCollum walked and all three scored on a pair of bases loaded walks and a balk to give the Broncs a 5-0 lead.
Sophomore Nate Eppley (Dillsburg, Pa./Northern) struck out four batters in two innings of relief. “Eppley threw well in relief,” Davis said.
Junior Darron Lattomus (Remington, Va./West Springfield) added a single in his only at bat.
Freshman Ryan Murphy (Yardville, N.J./Steinert) singled in his first collegiate at bat after red-shirting last year.
In the second game, a seven-inning contest cut short due to darkness, Rider scored four runs on four hits in the second inning, the biggest hit a two-run double by McCollum. A pair of sacrifice flies by Galella and junior Eric Woodrow (Hamilton, N.J./Hamilton West) in the third inning gave Rider a 7-0 lead, and a sacrifice fly by Ralston in the fourth inning gave the Broncs an 8-1 lead.
Heyne hit a three-run double in the fifth inning to give Rider an 11-3 lead.
Junior Kris Brown (Vineland, N.J./Vineland) pitched three and one-third innings, striking out four. Junior Ryan Miller (Montoursville, Pa./Montoursville) earned the win in relief. “At times Brown looked really good,” Davis said.
The Broncs will play the third game of the series Sunday at 12 noon. Sophomore Patrick Devlin (Richboro, Pa./Council Rock North) will be the starting pitcher.
Rider won all three games at Maryland Eastern Shore last year.
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