College Baseball
Rider University 8, Lafayette College 7
FLEMINGTON- Sophomore Adam Wayman (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./G.A.R. Memorial) hit a two run home run and a two run single, both in the same inning, to lead Rider to victory over Lafayette at Jack Cust Field Wednesday.
Senior Steve Galella (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./G.A.R. Memorial) hit a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to give Rider an 8-7 lead. "He threw me a change up high so I knew I was going to get a fastball," Galella said. "I was sitting fastball and I got it. I got a decent pitch to hit."
"Steve had a big, clutch hit," said Rider head coach Barry Davis.
Galella is now batting .322 on the season with a team-high nine hits. "It's a long season," Galella said. "I've been working hard, trying to stay focused. I usually start slow, so I'm happy I got off to a good start this year. As the DH I only have one thing to do, hit. The offensive part of the game is the most fun."
Galella now has 165 career hits, 27th most ever at Rider.
The Broncs (4-4) won on just four hits. "The other day we had 11 hits and lost," Davis said. "I'll take today."
Sophomore Tyler Smith (Westmont/Haddon Twp.) pitched a four-batter ninth inning for the save, his second of the year and the 11th of his young career. "Tyler is good," Davis said. "He's been good for us."
Sophomore Chris Taylor (Sterling, VA/Dominion) earned the win, his first of the year and the second of his career. Taylor pitched one and two-third innings in the seventh and eighth innings, allowing one hit and had one strikeout.
Lafayette scored two runs on three hits in the sixth inning to cut the lead to 7-6 and tied the score at 7-7 in the seventh on a sacrifice fly.
Wayman hit a two-run single with two outs in the fifth inning to give Rider a 7-4 lead.
The Broncs cut the lead to 4-2 on a two-run home run by Wayman, also in the fifth. It marked the second time Wayman collected two hits in an inning. "I did it last year at Virginia Tech," Wayman remembered, "but I don't think I ever had four RBI in one inning. That was good. I'm just glad to hit the ball hard. I haven't been hitting as well as I feel I should be."
"Adam had two big hits," Davis said. "I didn't realize they were both in the same inning."
Rider tied the score at 4-4 on a ground out RBI by junior Brandon Cotten (Wiconisco, Pa./Williams Valley) and a Lafayette error, and took a 5-4 lead on a bases loaded walk issued to Galella.
Freshman Kyle Kennett (Spring Lake, NJ/St. Rose) made his first start and pitched five innings, allowing four runs on seven hits while striking out two and left the game with a 7-4 lead. "I thought Kyle threw well," Davis said.
Lafayette took a 4-0 lead in the top of the fifth inning on four hits, including a three-run double. "It was nice to come back from down four runs," Davis said. "That was important."
"It was a tough day to play," Davis said of the cold, windy conditions.
The game was Rider's first above the Mason-Dixon line this season. "Everything has been warm this year," Wayman said, "but I didn't mind the cold or wind today. It was a little tough getting warmed up, but once you start moving around its fine. I grew up in this, played in this weather my whole life."
The Broncs travel to West Virginia University for a four-game series this weekend. "It will be a real big challenge for us," Davis said. "It will be fun to go there and compete against a Big East club."
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