College Baseball
Marist College 11, Rider University 8
LAWRENCEVILLE-The Broncs lost to Marist in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game Sunday, after sweeping the doubleheader Saturday. The loss snapped Rider's six-game winning streak. "It was important that we won the series," said Rider head coach Barry Davis. "We are happy with that. If we had split yesterday and won today we'd be happy right now. Since we lost today we're not happy, but looking at the big picture, winning the series is what we needed to do and we did that."
Marist (28-19, 11-7 MAAC) scored two runs in the seventh inning on three hits and an error to take an 8-7 lead and went up 11-7 in the eighth inning.
Rider (26-20, 12-9 MAAC) scored five runs in the fifth inning on just two hits, including a grand slam by junior A.J. Albee (Ashley, Pa./Hanover Area), cutting the lead to 6-5. "That was a huge hit by Albee," Davis said. "He hit that ball into the wind. That's why he is batting third."
The home run was the seventh of the year for Albee, tied for team-high. "That got us right back in it," Davis said. "From the fifth inning on we had pressure on them."
Rider tied the game at 6-6 in the sixth inning on a safety squeeze bunt by senior Eric Woodrow (Hamilton, N.J./Hamilton West) after a double by freshman Adam Wayman (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./G.A.R. Memorial) and a sacrifice bunt.
"That squeeze was all on Woodrow," Davis said of his senior catcher. "He did that all on his own. The way Woodrow does it, it has become indefensible. You can't defend against it. That's twice he has done it."
The Broncs took their first lead of the game, 7-6 on an RBI single by sophomore Brandon Cotten (Wiconisco, Pa./Williams Valley). "I like the way we battled back," Davis said.
Cotton had two hits and now has 19 hits in his last nine games, and made yet another sensational diving catch in centerfield. "It is arguable that he is the best centerfielder in the league," Davis said. "I don't know who else is better. He goes and gets them."
Marist scored four runs in the third inning on a pair of two-run doubles to take a 4-0 lead and led 6-0 in the fifth inning. "We gave up a couple of big innings," Davis said, "but you have to give Marist credit. They swung the bats."
Marist had 19 hits Sunday. "They did a good job," Davis said.
Rider junior Steve Galella (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./G.A.R. Memorial) had two of Rider's 11 hits and had seven hits in the series to raise his average to a team-high .381.
Freshman Tyler Smith (Westmont/Haddon Twp.) pitched an inning, his 24th appearance of the season, breaking the Rider record of 23 set in 2002 by James Hoey and tied in 2004 by Joe Ambler
Rider has won seven of its last nine and 11 of its last 16 games. Rider has won 10 of its last 15 conference games. The Broncs are currently in third place in the MAAC with three conference games remaining, May 21-22 at last place Iona. Canisius (16-2) is in first, Marist second, Manhattan (10-8) is fourth and Niagara (9-9) and Siena (9-9) are tied for fifth.
The Broncs and Red Foxes were Northeast Conference foes for five seasons before both institutions moved from the NEC to the MAAC in 1997.
Marist holds a 36-26 lead in the all-time series that began in 1992.
Before switching conferences Marist won the NEC Championship in 1997, ending Rider's three-year reign as Conference Champion.
Since both teams moved to the MAAC in 1998, Marist won conference titles in 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2005, with Rider finishing runner-up in 1999, 2001 and 2002.
The Broncs won the MAAC title in 2008, Rider's first conference championship since 1996.
The top four teams qualify for the MAAC Championship Tournament, hosted by Marist May 26-30 at Dutchess Stadium in Fishkill, NY.
Rider travels to Philadelphia Tuesday to play La Salle.
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