College Baseball
East Tennessee State University 5, Rider University 4
JOHNSON CITY, TN-Trailing 4-2 in the eighth inning, East Tennessee State University used a three-run, two-out rally to defeat Rider University in the 2011 Bronc season opener Friday evening.
"We played alright," said head coach Barry Davis. "We won all of the stat categories except for the one that counts."
The Broncs out-hit the Buccaneers 11-5, committed no errors to three for ETSU but lost on the scoreboard 5-4 in the first game of the four-game series.
Rider senior Mike Thomas (Forest Hill, Md./Fallston), the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and New Jersey Pitcher of the Year in 2010, went six innings and allowed only two hits, finishing one off a career-high with 10 strikeouts. Thomas struck out 11 at Saint Peter's last season.
"Mike did a good job," Davis said. "He was able to attack ETSU with fastballs and made good pitches, only walking two guys. He was pretty much in command and only came out because his pitch count was around 90 and that kind of caught up with him. He was good tonight and that was nice to see."
Rider got on the board in the first inning when senior A.J. Albee (Ashley, Pa./Hanover Area) hit a sacrifice fly, scoring senior Steve Galella (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./G.A.R. Memorial) who had reached on an error. Albee had two hits in the game and his 96 RBIs are tied for 23rd all-time at Rider.
The Broncs took a 4-0 lead with three runs in the fourth inning, keyed by a two-run double from junior Brandon Cotten (Wiconisco, Pa./Williams Valley). Cotton had two doubles in the game. The Buccaneers got one back on a solo home run in the bottom of the inning.
"Cotten's hit was a big one," Davis said. "It came with two outs and that gave us a four-run lead, which we felt pretty good about. Cotten did a good job and battled tonight."
Trailing 4-2 in the eighth inning, ETSU used a two-out RBI single to get within one with designated hitter Dylan Pratt following with a two-run home run off Bronc sophomore Tyler Smith (Westmont/Haddon Twp.) for the game-winning margin.
Also for the Broncs, freshman Nick Crescenzo (Hammonton) had a hit and an RBI.
"We had 11 hits, they had five and we left 11 on base to their three left on base and we can't do that," Davis added. "You get 11 hits, make no errors, you've got to win the game."
ETSU (3-1) began the season taking two of three from Marist.
Rider and ETSU play a doubleheader Saturday.
"We need to bounce back," Davis said. "We are going to have to play a little better and hit with runners in scoring position."
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