College Baseball
East Tennessee State University 5, Rider University 4
Rider University 7, East Tennessee State University 4
JOHNSON CITY, TN-The Broncs split a doubleheader at East Tennessee State Saturday. "It was good to get that first win," said Rider head coach Barry Davis. "We played well. We've been in every game."
In the second game of the doubleheader senior Steve Galella (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./G.A.R. Memorial) hit a grand slam home run in a five-run fifth inning to give the Broncs (1-2) a 7-1 lead. "That was a big hit," Davis said.
Galella also doubled in the second game and had three hits on the day.
ETSU (4-2) scored three runs in the fifth on two doubles and two singles to cut the lead to 7-4.
Senior Nate Eppley (Dillsburg, Pa./Northern), a veteran of 46 games, 45 as a reliever, made his first collegiate start and pitched six innings, allowing four runs while striking out three. "Eppley threw great," Davis said. "They had one big hit, a two-out double with bases loaded. He came back in the sixth and threw well."
Sophomore Tyler Smith (Westmont/Haddon Twp.) collected the save, his first of the year and tenth of his career.
Freshman Ken Kremer (Hershey, PA/Hershey) hit an RBI single in the fourth inning to tie the score and scored on a double by senior John Ralston (Annandale, Va./Paul VI) to give Rider a 2-1 lead. Ralston had a hit in each game.
"Kenny Kremer had a big hit," Davis said. It was the first collegiate hit for Kremer, the son of two-time All-American Ken Kremer, a member of the Rider Athletics Hall of Fame.
The Buccaneers took a 1-0 lead in the third inning on a hit-by-pitch, a sacrifice bunt and an RBI single.
In the first game, the Broncs took a 4-1 lead in the fifth inning on RBI singles by senior Karl Johnston (Hamilton, N.J./Peddie) and senior Mason Heyne (Shrewsbury, Pa./Susquehannock) and a safety squeeze bunt by senior A.J. Albee (Ashley, Pa./Hanover Area).
ETSU tied the score in the seventh with three runs on three hits and a Rider error and took a 5-4 lead in the eighth on a single, a sacrifice bunt and a double.
Rider junior Patrick Devlin (Richboro, Pa./Council Rock North) started and pitched six strong innings, allowing just one run on four hits while striking out five, leaving the game with a 4-1 lead. "Devlin threw great," Davis said. "That's two great starts (Mike Thomas on Friday left the game with 10 strikeouts and a 4-1 lead) we were not able to take advantage of."
Rider took a 1-0 lead in the third inning when Johnston doubled, went to third on a balk and scored on a ground out RBI by Albee.
Johnston had two of Rider's seven hits and scored two of Rider's four runs in game one and Albee had two of Rider's four RBI.
ETSU tied the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the third inning on a triple and an RBI ground out.
Rider and ETSU play the fourth and final game of the series Sunday at 1pm. "We don't play a lot of game fours on a weekend," Davis said. "We're going to need to score a little more. It would be nice to end the trip with two wins."
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