College Baseball
Appalachian State 8, Rider University 5
Galella and Ralston 100 career hits
HICKORY, NC-Despite out-hitting the host team 13-10, the Broncs lost at Appalachian State Saturday afternoon. "We've hit the ball pretty good on this trip," said Rider head coach Barry Davis. "I like the way we've approached the plate. Today we just didn't pitch well."
App. State (8-0) scored two runs in the first inning to take a 2-1 lead, two runs in the third for a 4-1 lead, one in the sixth for a 5-3 lead and three runs in the seventh inning on three hits to take an 8-3 lead. "They scored in half of the innings and we scored in about a third," Davis said.
Rider (4-2) scored two runs in the top of the ninth inning when junior Mason Heyne (Shrewsbury, Pa./Susquehannock) and junior John Ralston (Annandale, Va./Paul VI) each singled, senior Matt McCollum (Tabernacle, N.J./Shawnee) hit an RBI double and senior Eric Woodrow (Hamilton, N.J./Hamilton West) hit an RBI single for the final score.
"The biggest difference was they made us earn our runs and we didn't make them earn theirs," Davis said. Rider pitchers gave up six walks and the Broncs committed an error. "Their third baseman made a couple of nice plays that saved some runs for them and their right fielder made a nice play that saved a run."
Heyne had two hits and an RBI while Ralston had two hits including career hit #100. Junior Steve Galella (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./G.A.R. Memorial) had two hits including career hit 100 and two RBI and senior Nick Wojnowski (Baldwin, Md./Calvert Hall) had two hits. Senior Garrett Rugg (Langhorne, Pa./Neshaminy) also singled for the Broncs
The Broncs took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when junior A.J. Albee (Ashley, Pa./Hanover Area) reached base on an error, went to second on a balk and scored on an RBI single by Heyne.
Rider cut the lead to 4-3 with two runs in the fifth inning when junior Karl Johnston (Hamilton, N.J./Peddie) led off with a bunt single, Albee singled and Galella hit a two-run single.
Galella and Ralston are the 70th and 71st players with 100 or more career hits.
Rider plays the final game of the three game series at App . State Sunday afternoon. "I've seen plenty worse," Davis said of Rider's 4-2 start. "We're playing with them and they're a pretty good club. We could have easily won at least one of these games, but we didn't. They're out-playing us right now."
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