College Baseball
Rider University 9, Saint Peter's College 6
LAWRENCEVILLE?The Broncs kept their playoff hopes alive with a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference victory over Saint Peter's Thursday. “We did enough to win,” said Rider head coach Barry Davis. “We can certainly play better but overall it was a good effort.”
Although Senior Day is not until Saturday, it was the play of three seniors that led Rider (24-21, 12-10 MAAC) on Thursday, Sean Olson (Vineland, N.J./St. Augustine Prep), James Hayes (Sunrise, Fla./Piper) and Mike Petrowski (Hamilton Square, N.J./Steinert).
Olson knocked in three runs, tying the Rider career RBI record of 164, and had two hits, including his 29th career home run. “RBIs are always good for a team,” said Olson, the Bronc catcher who also set the career RBI record at St. Augustine Prep. “I can't do it without Jamie getting on base. He's getting close to the hit record so you can't ask for any more help than what he gives us. He's always on base, stealing bases and getting in scoring position. He's a big reason why I was able to accomplish this.”
Hayes had three of Rider's 10 hits, and now has 260, three shy of the Rider career record. Hayes also pitched the ninth inning in a non-save situation, striking out three. “He swung the bat well again today,” Davis said. Hayes has 14 hits in his last nine games. “We need him. He sets the table for us.”
“Thinking this is the last time we'll be playing here, there were some extra juices flowing today,” said Hayes, who already holds Rider career records for runs scored, stolen bases, at bats and saves. “I definitely wanted to get on the mound and close that game out. At the plate I was just trying to get on base so the guys behind me can drive me in. We did that and got a big lead and we kind of coasted.”
Petrowski pitched eight innings for the win, his third of the season. Petrowski is the Rider record holder for innings pitched in a season (96.2 last year) and in a career (293). After allowing two runs in the top of the first inning, Petrowski retired 10 of 11 batters over the next four innings. “He usually struggles in the first inning, for whatever reason,” Davis said, “but he bounced back and we got him some runs. He was able to go at them.”
“I didn't have my best stuff today but the guys made great plays in the field,” said Petrowski, who was the winning pitcher in the first round of the 2008 MAAC Tournament and came back two days later to save the Championship game. “I was just trying to keep it down today. My change up was probably my best pitch. We won, and that's what counts.”
“Mike threw well,” said Olson, his battery mate. “He had some troubles in the first inning with his mechanics but he settled in pretty good.”
Sophomore Mason Heyne (Shrewsbury, Pa./Susquehannock) hit a two-run double in the first inning to tie the score at 2-2, and made an outstanding defensive play at third base in the fifth inning. “That was a big hit by Mason,” Davis said.
Sophomore Steve Galella (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./G.A.R. Memorial) hit a sacrifice fly to give the Broncs a 3-2 lead after one. Galella had two RBI on the day.
The Broncs had a five-run second inning on four hits, including a two-run double by Olson, to take an 8-2 lead, and the Broncs made it 9-2 with Olson's two-out, solo home run in the third inning, his 11th of the season. “Olson's home run turned out to be bigger than we thought,” Davis said. “That ended up being a big run.”
“I swung through two change ups,” Olson said of that at bat. “He gave me a fast ball and I was way out in front, pulling it foul, so I was looking for another change up and got it.”
Saint Peter's (17-35, 7-15 MAAC) scored a run in the eighth inning and two in the ninth for the final score. “They showed us that you have to play them all,” Davis said. “They did a good job getting back in it.”
Sophomore John Ralston (Annandale, Va./Paul VI) added two hits for the Broncs.
The victory guaranteed Rider a winning season for the second year in a row. The last time Rider enjoyed back-to-back winning seasons was 1995-96. “That's important,” Davis said.
Rider will host Saint Peter's for a 12 noon doubleheader Saturday. Prior to the first game Rider will honor its seven graduating seniors. “We're not in for anything easy on Saturday,” Davis said. “It is going to be tough.”
“If we win two on Saturday and get a little help, who knows,” Petrowski said. “This is it,” Olson said, “all or nothing, so we're all playing 110 percent.”
Rider will host the MAAC Championship Tournament May 21-23 at Waterfront Park for the second straight year. Rider is the defending MAAC Champion. Rider qualified for the 2008 MAAC Tournament as the fourth seed and is looking to do that again.
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