College Baseball
Rider University 5, Siena College 3
LAWRENCEVILLE--The Broncs defeated Siena in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game Sunday and swept the three game series. "We sure could use it and we were fortunate to get the sweep," said Rider head coach Barry Davis.
The sweep puts Rider (23-19, 10-8 MAAC) back among the top four teams in the MAAC with six conference games remaining before the four-team MAAC Tournament. "I thought we played solid this weekend," Davis said.
Junior Karl Johnston (Hamilton, N.J./Peddie) hit an RBI single in the fifth inning to give Rider a 4-3 lead. During Johnston's at bat Rider tied the score on a passed ball. "With runners on second and third the infield was in so I was just trying to get a ball I could drive," Johnston said. "Hitting a ground ball was not an option. Once the run scored on the passed ball it was just a matter of putting the ball in play. He threw me a bunch of sliders that I fouled off and finally came with a fastball that I got enough of."
"Karl fought him off and had a very good at bat, where we tied the score and then fought his way to get the hit that broke the tie," Davis said.
"This was a make or break weekend," said Johnston, who scored two of Rider's five runs Sunday and was five for 11 at the plate in the three-game series. "Both teams knew they needed this series."
Siena (19-25, 6-9 MAAC) took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on two hits and a Rider error, but the Broncs came right back and tied the score at 2-2 in the first on one hit and three Siena errors. "We took advantage of their mistakes," Davis said.
Third-year sophomore Patrick Devlin (Richboro, Pa./Council Rock North) started and pitched six innings for the win, his fourth of the season and the seventh of his career. "He battled," Davis said. "He got through the first inning and did what he had to do. He threw strikes down the end and got them to swing."
Rider freshman Chris LeRoy (Freehold/Colts Neck) pitched the seventh and eighth innings, allowing just one walk. "I thought LeRoy was the key," Davis said of his 'bridge' between starter and closer. "He got us six outs and I think only one man got on base. We've been missing that 'bridge' and we had it today. He gave us a chance to get to Smith."
Freshman Tyler Smith (Westmont/Haddon Twp.) pitched a perfect ninth inning, striking out one, to record his sixth save. "I feel Smith can come in and get them out," Davis said. "He has done it all year."
Smith had a win and two saves this weekend while facing just nine batters in the three games.
"We pitched and played defense today," Davis said.
Senior Eric Woodrow (Hamilton, N.J./Hamilton West), sophomore Brandon Cotten (Wiconisco, Pa./Williams Valley) and junior A.J. Albee (Ashley, Pa./Hanover Area) each had two of Rider's eight hits.
"Eric has been steady," Davis said of his senior catcher who became a starter this year. "He's blocked the ball better this year and has had more clutch hits. He gives you a pretty good at bat. He puts it in play, he can bunt, he can hit and run. He does a lot of little things that go unnoticed to some people. He plays better than his batting average indicates."
"This sweep is big," said Woodrow, who split the catching duties with team MVP Sean Olson the last two years. "We came out very prepared and ready to win. This weekend I was seeing the ball pretty well."
Woodrow collected four hits in six at bats in the series. "Being at the bottom of the line up (eighth) I'm just sitting on fastballs and this weekend I got them," Woodrow said.
Junior Mason Heyne (Shrewsbury, Pa./Susquehannock) hit a sacrifice fly to give Rider a 5-3 lead in the fifth inning.
Rider hosts Lafayette Wednesday.
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