College Baseball
Seton Hall University 7, Rider University 6
LAWRENCEVILLE-Despite out-hitting the visiting Pirates the Broncs lost to Seton Hall Tuesday afternoon. "We swung the bat okay," said Rider head coach Barry Davis, "but we can't win playing the way we are playing."
Between the two teams there were nine errors. "Terrible ball game," Davis said. "That just shows you that pitching and defense is more important than hitting. One error can kill you, while one hit doesn't usually kill you."
In the bottom of the ninth inning Rider had the potential tying and winning runs on base with two outs when the Seton Hall shortstop made an overall the shoulder catch on a pop up to short leftfield to end the game. "Despite how we played, if that ball drops in we win the game," Davis said. "We had a chance at the end, which is what you want."
Seton Hall (11-12) scored three runs in the eighth inning on two hits and two Bronc errors to take a 7-5 lead.
Rider (7-15) committed five errors in the game, accounting for six unearned runs for Seton Hall.
The Broncs took a 3-1 lead in the first inning on four hits, including RBI singles by senior Brandon Cotten (Wiconisco, Pa./Williams Valley), junior Adam Wayman (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./G.A.R. Memorial) and freshman Greg Fazio (Far Hills/Ridge).
Rider took a 5-2 lead in the fifth inning on four hits and a Pirate error, when junior Ian Lindsay (Oaklyn/Haddon Twp.) doubled and scored on the first collegiate home run by freshman Justin Thomas (Richboro, PA/Council Rock South). Thomas and Lindsay each had two hits.
Seton Hall cut the lead to 5-4 in the sixth inning with two runs on one hit and two more Rider errors.
Rider freshman David Hafer (Pine Grove, PA) started and pitched into the sixth inning, allowing just one earned run and struck out three while walking two. "He pitched well," Davis said.
Rider sophomore Nick Crescenzo (Hammonton, NJ/Hammonton) had two hits and has 10 hits in his last four games. Graduate student Ryan Murphy (Yardville, N.J./Steinert) also had two hits, as the Broncs out-hit Seton Hall 12-8.
Rider and Seton Hall have now met 61 times since the series began in 1947, with Rider winning 22. Last year Rider lost 4-3 at Seton Hall. Rider won 8-7 in Lawrenceville in 2010 and Rider won 8-2 at Seton Hall in 2009.
The Broncs host George Mason (15-10) on Wednesday at 3:30. "We'll come out tomorrow and see what we can do," Davis said.
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