College Baseball
Rider University 10, Manhattan College 9
LAWRENCEVILLE- Senior Garrett Rugg (Langhorne, Pa./Neshaminy), who has spent his entire Rider career as a defensive replacement, hit an RBI single with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to give Rider a 10-9 come-from-behind Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference win over Manhattan Sunday.
Rugg entered the game as a defensive replacement in the top of the ninth inning after Rider pinch ran for junior John Ralston (Annandale, Va./Paul VI), the starting shortstop. Rugg hit a 3-2 curveball into left field for the walk-off, his fifth hit (17 at bats in 17 games this year) of the season and the 25th hit of his career.
"Even though he gave me a 3-1 curve I was looking fastball," said Rugg, who has played in 112 games in his Rider career. "I didn't want to guess curve, so I thought fastball and adjusted to the curve. I reached out and got it, hit it in a spot they couldn't get it. These chances don't come very often for me but I knew that if I had the opportunity I'd be ready. I was confident."
With the win, the Broncs win the series with the Jaspers two games to one. "We have never done that since I've been here," said sixth-year head coach Barry Davis. "That's a great accomplishment. They are a good team every year."
"It is great to win a series with these guys," Rugg said. "Any time you can get two of three from one of the league's best teams is great. Manhattan is always in the MAAC tournament."
The series is the first Rider (14-14, 4-5 MAAC) has won in the MAAC this year. "First of all, it is nice to win a conference series," Davis said. "Secondly, it was a good game to win. We battled back."
The Broncs tied the score at 8-8 in the seventh inning on a two-run home run to right field by senior Nick Wojnowski (Baldwin, Md./Calvert Hall), his fifth. "Wojo's homer was big," said Davis. "He has power that way. He has been consistent for us." But in the ninth inning, Davis pinch-hit for Wojnowski with freshman Ian Lindsay (Oaklyn/Haddon Twp.). Or should I say 'pinch-bunt'?
"That ninth inning was set up by Lindsay's bunt (after singles by Albee and Heyne to start the inning)," Davis said."Lindsay is a much better bunter than Wojo, really an excellent bunter. That is part of his game. Lindsay can be a starter on a lot of teams, so it was great to see him come in and lay down a perfect bunt that he beat out for a hit rather than just a sacrifice. He is going to be a big part of our program."
Rider tied the score at 9-9 in the ninth on a bases loaded ground ball by freshman Adam Wayman (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./G.A.R. Memorial) that Manhattan attempted to turn into a double play. Manhattan booted the grounder but threw out the potential winning run at the plate.
Trailing 8-3, Rider scored three runs in the sixth inning on three hits, including back-to-back doubles by Wayman and junior Steve Galella (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./G.A.R. Memorial) and an RBI triple by senior Eric Woodrow (Hamilton, N.J./Hamilton West) to cut the lead to 8-6.
"We were down 8-3 and things didn't look real good," Davis said, "but that's baseball. Yesterday in the second game nothing went right and today quite a few things went right."
Junior A.J. Albee (Ashley, Pa./Hanover Area), who scored on Wojnowski's home run, had four hits on the day. "He's just a good player," Davis said. "Solid. He uses right field, hits through the ball. He's steady."
"This is big, winning two of three from these guys after losing two of three the first two series," said Albee, who has 14 hits in his last six games. "I struggled a little bit yesterday but today I felt like I saw the ball pretty good. I was able to get some good swings."
Freshman Tyler Smith (Westmont/Haddon Twp.), who pitched a two-inning save on Saturday, pitched the final hitless inning Sunday for the win, his first. "He had just as much velocity today as he did yesterday," Davis said.
Rider took a 3-2 lead in the second inning with three runs on four hits, including RBI singles by Ralston and sophomore Brandon Cotten (Wiconisco, Pa./Williams Valley).
Rider had 19 hits, as Cotton, Wojnowski, Galella, Woodrow and junior Mason Heyne (Shrewsbury, Pa./Susquehannock) all had two hits each. Heyne has now hit in nine consecutive games.
Manhattan (16-11, 5-4 MAAC) scored two runs in the first, fourth, fifth and sixth innings and one in the ninth to take a 9-8 lead.
Rider freshman pitcher Mike Murphy (Hamilton/Peddie) pitched three and one-third innings of relief, striking out four. "I think Murphy is one of our best pitchers and we weren't using him enough (as a closer)," Davis said.
Rider hosts Seton Hall Tuesday for a 3:30 game that was rained out March 30.
-ru-
