College Baseball
Rider University 10, Siena College 7
Rider University 7, Siena College 5
LAWRENCEVILLE--The Broncs swept Siena in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference doubleheader Saturday. "It was important that we played well today and we did," said Rider head coach Barry Davis.
Freshman Tyler Smith (Westmont/Haddon Twp.) faced six batters in the doubleheader and recorded a save, his fifth, and a win, his third, and junior Karl Johnston (Hamilton, N.J./Peddie) had four hits in the twin bill. "Smith has really stepped up this year," Davis said of his closer. "He's been pretty good and didn't throw that many pitches so he'll be ready to go again tomorrow if we need him."
In the first game junior Mike Thomas (Forest Hill, Md./Fallston) pitched eight innings, allowing two earned runs while striking out six for the win. "Mike was solid," Davis said. "He kept us in the game and did a good job."
"I felt good today," said Thomas, who with the win, improves to 6-2 on the season, 17-8 for his career. The 17-8 mark is the 15th best ever at Rider, surpassing All-American and former major leaguer Jack Armstrong on Rider's career list.
"There is always pressure in the conference games because every game is important," Thomas said. "Today I was just trying to keep my emotions in check and make my pitches."
Rider (22-19, 9-8 MAAC) trailed 2-1 before scoring seven runs in the fourth inning on seven hits, the biggest hit of the inning a two-run double by junior John Ralston (Annandale, Va./Paul VI). "We had a good stretch where we were getting hits after hits, hitting the ball hard," Davis said, "and as it turns out we needed every one of them. Ralston had a big hit."
Ralston, sophomore Brandon Cotten (Wiconisco, Pa./Williams Valley), Johnston and senior Eric Woodrow (Hamilton, N.J./Hamilton West) each had two of Rider's 12 hits in the first game.
In the second game, junior A.J. Albee (Ashley, Pa./Hanover Area) hit a two-run single in the sixth inning to break a 5-5 tie. "A.J.'s hit was obviously huge," Davis said. "He picked us up pretty good."
"I was just looking for a pitch I could get a good swing on," said Albee, who leads Rider with 34 RBI this season. "I got an inside fastball and sort of inside-outed it up the middle."
Siena (19-24, 6-8 MAAC) scored four runs in the third inning on a sacrifice bunt, a sacrifice fly, hit batsman and three hits, including a two-run home run to take a 4-1 lead.
Trailing 5-3, Rider tied the score at 5-5 in the fifth inning of the seven inning contest when senior Nick Wojnowski (Baldwin, Md./Calvert Hall) hit an RBI triple and scored on a single by freshman Adam Wayman (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./G.A.R. Memorial). Wojnowski and Wayman each had two of Rider's eight hits in the second game. "Nick had a big hit," Davis said.
Rider freshman Mike Murphy (Hamilton/Peddie) started the second game and pitched five and two-thirds innings, striking out five. "Murphy proved he can be the guy to start the middle game of the conference series," Davis said. "Siena is a good hitting team."
In the first inning Rider got its first two runners on base and Albee sacrificed them over, resulting in a Rider run. "In a seven inning game the game is shorter, the runs are bigger, and I felt we had a chance to jump out and get two runs early," Davis said of bunting his third hitter in the first inning. "Our record is pretty good when we score first and that is what I was trying to do."
"Whatever I can do to help us win is what I want to do," Albee said of the sacrifice bunt, his first of the year. "Getting runners at second and third with one out is pretty big right there."
Rider has now defeated Siena nine of the last 11 meetings.
Rider won all three games at Siena last year and two out of three in 2008, the last time the Saints were in Lawrenceville and Rider took two of three at Siena in 2007. Siena holds a 23-22 advantage in the series that began in 1995.
The third game of the series will be Sunday at 12 noon. "We need to win tomorrow," Davis said. "This is huge right now," Albee said. "We know we have to win, so we came out and played and got two wins, one more tomorrow.".
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