College Baseball
Rider University 5, Charleston So. University 1
CHARLESTON, SC- Freshman Kurt Sowa (Bensalem, PA/Fr. Judge) pitched seven shutout innings, striking out six while allowing just three hits and one walk, to lead Rider to victory over Charleston Southern Sunday afternoon. "Kurt threw well," said Rider head coach Barry Davis. "He did what a good starter does. He was able to throw strikes, he gave us a chance to win."
The Broncs (5-7) won the series two games to one over Charleston Southern (5-11). "Any time you can win the series on the road is always a good thing," Davis said. "We feel good about that. It was a well pitched game and we got some clutch hits in timely situations and that's usually how you win games."
Sowa (2-1) is the first Bronc to collect two wins on the season.
Rider senior Brandon Cotten (Wiconisco, Pa./Williams Valley) hit a three-run home run in the fifth inning to give Rider a 4-0 lead. Cotten had four RBI on the day.
Freshman Greg Fazio (Far Hills/Ridge) hit his first collegiate home run, a solo shot with two outs in the fourth inning to break up a scoreless game. "That was a big hit, with two outs," Davis said.
Fazio also doubled in the sixth inning.
Junior Tyler Smith (Westmont/Haddon Twp.), a preseason All-American closer, came in and pitched out of a bases loaded jam in the eighth inning and finished the game to record his third save of the season and the 27th save of his career.
"Tyler came in with bases loaded and nobody out and was able to get us out of it," Davis said.
Sophomore Nick Crescenzo (Hammonton, NJ/Hammonton) and junior Richie Garcia (Franklin Square, N.Y./Valley Stream North) also had two hits each for the Broncs. Garcia singled in the third inning and again in the eighth while Crescenzo singled in the third and the fifth innings.
Junior Ian Lindsay (Oaklyn/Haddon Twp.) and freshman Mike Parsons (Liverpool, NY) also collected hits for Rider.
Rider now travels to North Carolina to take on Campbell Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. "Campbell is playing pretty well right now," Davis said. "We have a big week coming up. It will be a big challenge for us."
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