College Baseball
Longwood University 12, Rider University 9
Rider University 19, Longwood University 5
FARMVILLE, VA- Junior Mason Heyne (Shrewsbury, Pa./Susquehannock) compiled five hits and five RBI to lead Rider to a split in a doubleheader at Longwood Saturday afternoon. "Mason drove the ball today," said Rider head coach Barry Davis. "His home run was big."
The victory was career win number 700 (700-315) for Davis. "I've been doing this a long time," Davis said. "It's a neat accomplishment. I've been able to coach some good teams and have had some big wins. I hope to get 701 tomorrow."
In the second game, Heyne hit a grand slam in the second inning to give Rider an 8-0 lead.
Heyne now has 19 career home runs, 11th highest ever at Rider.
Freshman Mike O'Reilly (Colts Neck) hit a three-run home run in the third inning to give Rider a 15-0 lead. It was O'Reilly's first collegiate hit. "That's a nice way to get your first college hit," Davis said.
Junior A.J. Albee (Ashley, Pa./Hanover Area) and junior John Ralston (Annandale, Va./Paul VI) hit two-run homers in the first inning to give Rider a 4-0 lead.
"Albee hits one the second batter of the ball game," Davis said, "and Ralston hit his with two outs. That was big. A two-run inning is a nice way to start but getting four runs in the first inning gives you more of a cushion right out of the gate and is something you can build on."
Ralston had four hits on the day.
Rider sophomore Patrick Devlin (Richboro, Pa./Council Rock North) pitched five innings, allowing three runs while striking out five for his second win of the season. "We had some long innings at the plate so it was tough for him to get into a rhythm," Davis said. "Despite that he was solid. He threw fine."
Junior Steve Galella (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./G.A.R. Memorial) and junior Karl Johnston (Hamilton/Peddie) each had two hits in the second game.
In the first game, the Broncs scored two runs on three hits in the seventh inning when senior Darron Lattomus (Remington, Va./West Springfield) hit an RBI single and pinch runner, sophomore Brandon Cotten (Wiconisco, Pa./Williams Valley), stole second and scored on an error, cutting the lead to 11-8, but that was as close as the Broncs could get.
Rider scored four runs in the fifth inning on two hits, three errors and a walk, the biggest hit an RBI single by Lattomus, to cut the lead to 11-6.
Senior Garrett Rugg (Langhorne, Pa./Neshaminy) hit an RBI single in the top of the fourth inning to cut the lead to 6-2. The Broncs got on the board with a run in the second inning when freshman Adam Wayman (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./G.A.R. Memorial) singled, stole second, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a single by senior Eric Woodrow (Hamilton/Hamilton West). Wayman had three hits in the doubleheader.
Five Rider pitchers gave up 12 run on 15 hits in the first game Saturday. Longwood scored five runs on four hits in the fourth inning to take an 11-2 lead. Longwood scored four runs on five hits in the second inning after scoring two runs on three hits in the first inning to take a 6-1 lead.
"It's tough to come back from an 11-2 hole," Davis said.
The Broncs (8-8) take on Longwood (9-7) in the fourth and final game of the series Sunday afternoon.
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