College Baseball
West Virginia University 5, Rider University 3
West Virginia University 11, Rider University 5
MORGANTOWN, WV-The Broncs lost a doubleheader at West Virginia Saturday. "It was one of those days that when we swung the bats we didn't play defense and when we pitched well we didn't hit," said Rider head coach Barry Davis.
In the second game, senior Mason Heyne (Shrewsbury, Pa./Susquehannock) hit a two-run home run in the first inning, his 200th career hit and his 22nd career home run. "Mason swung the bat a little bit today," Davis said.
Heyne now has 202 hits, sixth most ever at Rider and 22 home runs, 10th most among Broncs. Heyne also now has 155 RBI, third most at Rider.
Senior Steve Galella (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./G.A.R. Memorial) hit a solo home run in the fourth inning, his third home run of the season, to cut the lead to 5-3, and his RBI single in the fifth inning cut the lead to 8-4. Galella now has a team-high 13 hits on the season. "Steve continued to hit the ball for us," Davis said.
Freshman Nick Crescenzo (Hammonton, NJ/Hammonton) hit an RBI single in the sixth inning for Rider (4-6) to cut the lead to 8-5.
WV (7-6) tied the score at 2-2 in the first, took a 4-2 lead in the second inning and scored three runs in the fourth inning to take an 8-3 lead. The Mountaineers scored three runs in the seventh to take an 11-5 lead.
The Broncs committed four errors in the second game and two in the first. "We threw the ball around," Davis said. "We made errors that we don't characteristically make. They were on routine plays. Today was not a stellar day from the defensive standpoint. Something that we pride ourselves on."
In the first game, a seven inning contest, the Broncs had just three hits. "We didn't hit at all in the first game," Davis said. "Their pitcher threw pretty good. We saw the number one and their number two (starting pitchers)."
The Mountaineers took a 5-1 lead in the fifth inning on a three-run home run followed by a solo home run. "They're good," Davis said. "They hit. Hitting is their thing."
In the sixth inning sophomore Adam Wayman (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./G.A.R. Memorial) had an RBI ground out and senior John Ralston (Annandale, Va./Paul VI) had an RBI single to cut the lead to 5-3. "We were one base runner away from bringing the tying run to the plate," Davis said.
Senior Karl Johnston (Hamilton, N.J./Peddie) led off the first inning with a walk, stole second and third and scored on a double by senior A.J. Albee (Ashley, Pa./Hanover Area) to give Rider a 1-0 lead.
West Virginia tied the score at 1-1 in the third inning on a walk, a single, a sacrifice bunt and an RBI ground out.
Senior Mike Thomas (Forest Hill, Md./Fallston) pitched the first game and struck out seven and walked just two. "We got a well-pitched game from Mike," Davis said.
Thomas now has 28 strikeouts this season in 18 innings pitched.
Sophomore Ian Lindsay (Oaklyn/Haddon Twp.) also singled for the Broncs in the first game and had two hits on the day.
Rider and West Virginia will play the third and fourth games of the series Sunday beginning at 1pm. We need to bounce back with a better effort in all phases of the game," Davis said.
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