BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.?Despite three hits from sophomore John Ralston (Annandale, Va./Paul VI) Rider University lost its fifth game in a row, losing at Gardner-Webb in the final game of the three-game series on Wednesday.

Trailing 1-0, Gardner-Webb scored five times in the bottom half of the first inning and never looked back, opening up a 12-2 lead after five innings.

“We got down right from the get go,” said head coach Barry Davis.  “We had opportunities to get back into the game and didn't execute.”

The Bronc defense made three errors, leading to five unearned runs.  “In a lot of our losses, most of the runs are unearned,” Davis said.  “We're not pitching or playing solid defense.”

Rider senior Derek Caldwell (Allentown, Pa. (Salisbury) lasted three innings, allowing six earned runs.

“We're struggling to get our pitching squared away,” Davis added.  “To lose a tough game like we did yesterday and get down early, it deflated us right from the start.”

Also for Rider, sophomore A.J. Albee (Ashley, Pa./Hanover Area) hit his second home run of the season, a solo shot that gave Rider (3-8) a 1-0 first inning lead.

“I thought we swung the bats well,” Davis said.  “A.J. came up and hit a big home run.  He has been solid and is giving us pretty good at-bats.  Hitting behind senior James Hayes, A.J. is giving us a solid 1-2 punch.”

The Broncs open Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play at Niagara in a three-game series March 21-22.

“Having opened with 11 straight on the road, three more won't affect us,” Davis said about the series with the Purple Eagles.  “The fact that it is a MAAC series will certainly raise our level of intensity.”

-RU-