College Baseball
Appalachian State 7, Rider University 5
HICKORY, N.C.--The Rider University baseball team had its four-game winning streak snapped and lost for the first time this season, at Appalachian State (7-0) Friday afternoon.
For Rider (4-1), junior A.J. Albee (Ashley, Pa./Hanover Area) had three hits and scored twice with senior Matt McCollum (Tabernacle/Shawnee) and junior John Ralston (Annandale, Va./Paul VI) each collecting two hits. Ralston now has 99 career hits at Rider.
"A.J. and Matty has some good hits and Ralston got a big hit for us as well," said head coach Barry Davis. "It was a good game overall, I thought we could have played better on defense."
Albee has six hits in his last two games.
Ralston and freshman Adam Wayman (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./G.A.R. Memorial) each had two RBI for the Broncs.
Trailing 1-0 in the third inning, the Broncs took a 2-1 lead on a two-run bases loaded single by Wayman.
"Adam's hit was big," Davis said. "It gave us the lead and got us some momentum."
ASU took advantage of a Rider error and wild pitch to tie the game in the fourth and retook the lead, 3-2 on a home run in the fifth.
"We gave a couple of runs away," said Davis. "We misplayed a fly ball in the fourth and there was a play, it was not an easy play but we didn't get any outs on it in the sixth and it snow balled from there. You take those plays out and we are in much better shape."
ASU used three hits and two walks to plate three runs in the sixth and went up 6-2 before a bases loaded walk by senior Nick Wojnowski (Baldwin, Md./Calvert Hall) and a two-run single by Ralston in the top of the seventh brought Rider to within one at 6-5.
"We have some experienced players who don't panic when we are trailing," said Davis. "We are pretty steady. There were a few times where we left the bases loaded where we could have helped ourselves with one more hit. Overall we competed and were in the game and got into their bullpen and saw a little bit of that."
Three singles and a bases loaded walk gave ASU a run in the bottom of the seventh as the Mountaineers went up 7-5.
Mountaineer pitcher Chris Patterson retired Rider in order in the eighth and ninth innings.
Each team had 11 hits in the game. "We swung the bats pretty well," said Davis. "We showed a good approach at the plate."
Rider left eight runners on base with ASU stranding 10.
Junior Mike Thomas (Forest Hill, Md./Fallston) started and took the loss for Rider, working five and one-third innings, recording eight strikeouts while allowing three earned runs. Thomas is now 1-1 on the season.
"I thought Mike pitched well and competed," Davis said.
Freshman Tyler Smith (Westmont/Haddon Township) worked two and a third innings, scattering four hits for the Broncs.
Rider and ASU complete the three-game series with single games on Saturday at 2pm and Sunday at 1pm. The games are being played at L.P. Frans Stadium in Hickory, North Carolina after heavy snow this week forced the venue change.
"We feel good about the game," Davis added. "We can't walk a guy, hit a guy and drop a pop up and misplay a grounder, in key situations. ASU took advantage of every mistake we made and magnified them. They are solid and are playing confident. We have some things we need to sure up on our end."
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