College Baseball
Winthrop University 4, Rider University 0
ROCK HILL, SC-The Broncs compiled four hits and three errors in a loss at Winthrop Friday evening in the first game of a three-game series. "We're just not playing good baseball right now," said Rider head coach Barry Davis. "We haven't deserved to win. Other teams are playing better than us."
Winthrop (4-15) scored three unearned runs in the third inning on three hits, a sacrifice fly and three Rider errors and added a fourth run in the sixth inning on two hits and another Rider error to take a 4-0 lead. "We threw two balls away and we misplayed a ball in the outfield," Davis said. "That cost us a few runs."
Sophomore Mike Murphy (Hamilton/Peddie) started and pitched six and two-thirds innings, allowing just one earned run while striking out four. "Mike pitched a good game," Davis said.
Rider (5-10) junior Adam Wayman (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./G.A.R. Memorial) doubled in the seventh inning and singled in the ninth for two of Rider's four hits. "He finally swung the bat like he is supposed to," Davis said.
Wayman has 118 career hits but got off to a slow start this season, entering Friday's game with a .236 batting average. "He's been struggling but today he attacked the baseball and became an offensive player," Davis said. "Hopefully he can build on that."
Senior Brandon Cotten (Wiconisco, Pa./Williams Valley) and freshman Eric Strano (Robbinsville) also collected hits for the Broncs.
"We hit the ball hard a few times and they made some nice plays and we hit into a few double plays," Davis said. "We're fighting ourselves a little bit. We have to just grind it out. The effort is there and so is the desire to win. It just isn't in the cards right now."
Rider will take on Winthrop again Saturday afternoon at 3pm. "We just have to keep playing and hopefully we'll get a spark," Davis said.
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