College Baseball
Niagara University 6, Rider University 3
LAWRENCEVILLE-The Broncs lost a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game to Niagara Sunday, as the Purple Eagles won the series two games to one. "We didn't come to play today,' said Rider head coach Barry Davis. "We've got to find a way to play better than that."
Rider (10-11, 1-2 MAAC) broke the shutout in the fifth inning when junior John Ralston (Annandale, Va./Paul VI) and scored on a pair of errors. The Broncs added a run in the seventh inning on a home run by freshman Adam Wayman (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./G.A.R. Memorial), his first. Wayman had two of Rider's six hits. "That was a good swing," Davis said.
Rider cut the lead to 6-3 in the ninth inning when junior Mason Heyne (Shrewsbury, Pa./Susquehannock) tripled and scored on a ground out. "We had some moments," Davis said, "but we could never string anything together."
Niagara (6-17, 2-1 MAAC) scored two runs in the fourth inning on a two-run home run and scored two more runs in the fifth inning on a two-run home run to take a 5-0 lead. "It's a tribute to Niagara," Davis said, "to come in here with a 4-16 record and play the way they did. They out-played us, they out-pitched us today."
Sophomore Brandon Cotten (Wiconisco, Pa./Williams Valley) and junior Steve Galella (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./G.A.R. Memorial) also had hits for Rider.
Freshmen pitchers Joe Calogero (Cherry Hill, N.J./Cherry Hill HS West), Chris LeRoy (Freehold/Colts Neck) and Sean Kuberiet (Branchburg/Somerville) pitched the final three scoreless innings. "Our bullpen did alright," Davis said. "We gave up one run (unearned) from the fifth inning on. Can't ask for much better than that."
Rider won two of three games at Niagara last season and the two teams tied for fourth place in the final standings, with the Broncs making the playoffs having won the series. "Overall it's disappointing," Davis said. "Certainly not where we want to be."
Rider hosts Seton Hall Tuesday at 3:30. The Broncs return to MAAC action April 3, 5 at Fairfield. "We're going to see how good we are pretty quick," Davis said.
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