College Baseball
Rider University 12, Niagara University 3
Niagara University 4, Rider University 3
LAWRENCEVILLE-The Broncs split a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference doubleheader with Niagara Saturday. "Give Niagara credit," said Rider head coach Barry Davis. "They did the things they needed to do. It is really disappointing, knowing we had an opportunity today."
In the first game, Rider (10-10, 1-1 MAAC) scored five runs in the fourth inning on five hits, the biggest hit a two-run single by junior John Ralston (Annandale, Va./Paul VI), to take a 5-3 lead. "We were able to bounce back and swing the bats a little bit," Davis said.
Ralston had two hits in the first game.
Junior Mike Thomas (Forest Hill, Md./Fallston) started and pitched seven innings, matching his career-high with nine strike outs while walking just two. "Thomas threw well," Davis said.
Thomas improves to 3-2 on the season and now has 14 career wins. "I felt all right," Thomas said. "It was cold so it was a little tough to get loose, stay warm, but other than that everything felt pretty good. In the early innings I was throwing a hard curve ball that was working well. We got a lot of runs early that was nice. It is good to know we can come out and score with the best of them."
The Broncs broke open a 6-3 game with three runs in the seventh inning on three hits, the biggest an RBI single by junior Steve Galella (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./G.A.R. Memorial). "That gave us the separation we needed," Davis said.
Galella had three hits and three RBI in the first game.
Freshman Tyler Smith (Westmont/Haddon Twp.) pitched the final two shutout innings, striking out three. "Smith was pretty good," Davis said.
Rider scored three more runs in the eighth inning on three hits, all with two outs, as junior Karl Johnston (Hamilton, N.J./Peddie) hit an RBI double, his third hit of the game. Johnston had five hits in the doubleheader.
"Our confidence at the plate was good and we were driving the ball," Davis said. "It seemed everybody was hitting the ball pretty good."
In the second game, a scheduled seven-inning contest, Niagara (5-17, 1-1 MAAC) scored the winning run in the top of the eighth inning on a wild pitch.
Niagara scored two unearned runs in the fourth inning to take a 3-2 lead. "We gave them two runs," Davis said. "We have to know where we're throwing the ball when the ball is hit to us," Davis said.
Rider tied the score at 3-3 in the bottom of the seventh inning on an RBI double by junior Mason Heyne (Shrewsbury, Pa./Susquehannock). Heyne had two hits in the second game.
Third-year sophomore Patrick Devlin (Richboro, Pa./Council Rock North) pitched six innings, striking out five while allowing just one earned run. "Devlin threw fine," Davis said.
Rider junior A.J. Albee (Ashley, Pa./Hanover Area) had four hits on the day, giving him 100 for his career.
Sophomore Brandon Cotten (Wiconisco, Pa./Williams Valley) had two hits and two runs scored in the doubleheader and made a back-to-home plate diving catch in centerfield to rob Niagara of three runs in the eighth inning of the second game.
Senior Nick Wojnowski (Baldwin, Md./Calvert Hall) had three hits in the doubleheader
The third game of the series will be played Sunday at 12 noon. "We have to forget the second game today and come out and win tomorrow," Davis said. "It is always the goal to win the series so that is what we'll try to do on Sunday."
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