College Baseball
Fairfield University 6, Rider University 5
Fairfield University 3, Rider University 1 (8 innings)
LAWRENCEVILLE-The Broncs lost a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference doubleheader to Fairfield Monday. "Fairfield deserved to win the doubleheader today," said Rider head coach Barry Davis. "They out-played us in every area."
In the first game Fairfield broke a 3-3 tie with two runs in the fourth inning on three hits and an error, and took a 6-3 lead in the fifth inning on two hits and another Rider error.
The Broncs cut the lead to 6-5 with two runs in the eighth inning, including an RBI single by senior John Ralston (Annandale, Va./Paul VI).
Sophomore Mike O'Reilly (Colts Neck) had an RBI single in the second inning, cutting the Fairfield lead to 3-2. O'Reilly and freshman Nick Crescenzo (Hammonton, NJ/Hammonton) each had two of Rider's 10 hits in the first game.
Senior A.J. Albee (Ashley, Pa./Hanover Area) doubled, advanced to third on a fly out and scored on a throwing error to tie the score at 3-3 in the third inning.
Senior Jeff Giordano (Massapequa Park, N.Y./Massapequa) pitched four scoreless innings of relief, allowing just two hits.
In the second game, a scheduled seven inning contest, Fairfield (14-18, 6-5 MAAC) scored two runs in the eighth inning on a single, a walk and a two-run double, breaking a 1-1 tie.
"I felt the second game was well-played," Davis said. "We pitched well and played well defensively, we just didn't hit."
Rider (21-14, 9-5 MAAC) tied the score at 1-1 in the second inning when sophomore Adam Wayman (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./G.A.R. Memorial) singled, advanced to second on a ground out and scored on an RBI single by senior Karl Johnston (Hamilton, N.J./Peddie).
Senior Nate Eppley (Dillsburg, Pa./Northern) pitched six innings, allowing just one run on four hits and a walk while striking out four. "Nate threw very well," Davis said. "Give the Fairfield pitchers credit, too. Both of their kids pitched well and deserved to win the games."
Wayman, Johnston and Ralston each had two hits in the doubleheader, while Crescenzo had three.
"You have to earn the wins," Davis said. "and today we didn't earn them and they did. You got through ruts during the year. You try to avoid them. You keep plugging away. We're going to have to work our tails off to salvage a game in this series."
The third game of the series with Fairfield will be played Tuesday at 3:00 pm, also at Rider's Sonny Pittaro Field. "Hopefully we'll play better tomorrow," Davis said.
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