College Baseball
Rider University 4, University of Maryland Eastern Shore 1
Rider University 7, University of Maryland Eastern Shore 0

PRINCESS ANNE, MD-The Broncs swept another doubleheader at Maryland Eastern Shore Monday to begin the 2010 season 4-0. "We played a little better today," said Rider head coach Barry Davis. "One thing we did pretty well all weekend is we threw strikes and caught the ball."

In the first game, Rider took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on two hits, a walk and a pair of fielder's choices.

Senior Garrett Rugg (Langhorne, Pa./Neshaminy) singled and scored on a wild pitch to give Rider a 2-0 lead in the second inning and senior Nick Wojnowski (Baldwin, Md./Calvert Hall) hit an RBI double to give Rider a 3-0 lead in the third inning.

"We didn't put any big inning together in the first game," Davis said, "but it was a good, solid win with defense and pitching."

Freshman pitcher Joe Calogero (Cherry Hill, N.J./Cherry Hill HS West) started and pitched eight innings, striking out five in his collegiate debut. "Joe pitched an outstanding game," Davis said. "He was in command the entire game."  Calogero did not walk a batter.

Junior Nate Eppley (Dillsburg, Pa./Northern) pitched the ninth inning, allowing one hit but struck out three for the save. "Eppley came in and pitched a strong ninth," Davis said. "He looked good."

In the second game sophomore Patrick Devlin (Richboro, Pa./Council Rock North) made his first appearance since shoulder surgery last year and struck out five in four innings of work. "We didn't want to overwork Devlin," Davis said, "so we only pitched him four innings. He looked pretty good."

Rider took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on an RBI single by senior Matt McCollum (Tabernacle, N.J./Shawnee) and took a 3-0 lead in the third inning on an RBI triple by junior Mason Heyne (Shrewsbury, Pa./Susquehannock). Heyne had three hits Monday and junior Karl Johnston (Hamilton, N.J./Peddie) had two. Johnston had four stolen bases on the day. "He put some pressure on them with his speed," Davis said. "We manufactured some runs early and Mason had some big hits."

The Broncs broke the game open with four runs in the fourth inning on two errors and two hits, including a two-run single by junior A.J. Albee (Ashley, Pa./Hanover Area) and another RBI single by McCollum.

"We hit the ball better the second game," Davis said. Rider had 10 hits in seven innings in the second game after nine hits in nine innings in the first game.

Albee, a Second Team All-MAAC selection last year, had four hits on Monday and McCollum had six RBI in the four-game series. Junior Steve Galella (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./G.A.R. Memorial) also had two hits Monday. "Albee's bat came around today," Davis said. "He's the catalyst."  Albee bats in the leadoff spot for the Broncs.

"We had a good, solid first weekend," Davis said, "but we're going to have to get better."

Rider travels to Boone, North Carolina to take on Appalachian State in a four game series starting March 5.

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