College Baseball
Winthrop University 5, Rider University 2
ROCK HILL, SC-The Broncs lost at Winthrop Sunday afternoon in the third game of a three-game series. "Right now, we are not playing very well," said Rider head coach Barry Davis. "You have to make your own breaks and we are not doing that."
Winthrop (6-15) scored two runs on two hits in the fifth inning to break a 2-2 tie and added another run on two more hits in the sixth inning to take a 5-2 lead.
Rider (5-11) tied the score at 2-2 in the third inning when junior Ian Lindsay (Oaklyn/Haddon Twp.) singled, stole second, went to third on a throwing error and scored on a sacrifice fly by freshman Greg Fazio (Far Hills/Ridge), his second sac. fly of the game.
The Eagles tied the score at 1-1 in the first inning on a walk, a passed ball and an error and took a 2-1 lead in the second inning. "We had a very brief lead so every mistake is magnified when you are not playing with a lead," Davis said.
The Broncs manufactured a run took in the first inning when senior Brandon Cotten (Wiconisco, Pa./Williams Valley) reached base on an error, advanced to second on a single by junior Richie Garcia (Franklin Square, N.Y./Valley Stream North), was sacrificed to third by Lindsay and scored on a sacrifice fly by Fazio.
"Greg had two quality at bats with runners on third base," Davis said.
Sophomore Nick Crescenzo (Hammonton, NJ/Hammonton) had three of Rider's six hits. "Nick played well," Davis said. "He hit the ball hard and he's coming around."
Freshman Kurt Sowa (Bensalem, PA/Fr. Judge) pitched five innings for the Broncs and struck out seven while allowing four earned runs. "Kurt threw fine but had too many walks," Davis said. Sowa walked five and allowed five hits. "He kept us in the ball game, like he has done."
Rider returns north and travels to Rutgers Wednesday.
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