College Baseball
Manhattan College 13, Rider University 4
LAWRENCEVILLE-The Broncs gave up 10 runs in the last two innings in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference loss to Manhattan Sunday. "It's tough to win three games against good teams," said Rider head coach Barry Davis.
Rider (11-23, 6-6 MAAC) won the conference series two games to one with a doubleheader sweep on Saturday. "You have to look at the big picture," Davis said. "Against a good team we won two out of three. If you had told me last week we would win two of three against Manhattan I would have said 'I'll take it.' Now, I don't have to like it, but I'll take it."
Trailing 4-3, Manhattan (15-19, 8-4 MAAC) scored four runs in the eighth inning on three hits and a Rider error, the fourth error of the game for the Broncs. "We had a 4-3 lead going into the eighth, you have to close it out," Davis said, "and we didn't."
Sophomore Nick Crescenzo (Hammonton, NJ/Hammonton) hit an RBI single in the seventh inning to give Rider a 4-3 lead. "To come back and get the lead that late," Davis said, "you feel like 'okay, let's steal one' but it didn't happen. Manhattan swings the bats."
Rider freshman Greg Fazio (Far Hills/Ridge) hit a two-run single in the sixth inning to tie the score at 3-3. "We battled back," Davis said. "That's one thing we did today."
The Broncs got on the board in the fifth inning when freshman Mike Parsons (Liverpool, NY) singled and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by freshman Eric Strano (Robbinsville).
Rider freshman starter Kurt Sowa (Bensalem, PA/Fr. Judge) allowed two runs in the first inning but settled down and pitched six innings, striking out five while allowing three runs. "Once he got going he gathered himself and kept us in the game," Davis said.
Junior Adam Wayman (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./G.A.R. Memorial) had two of Rider's eight hits, including a double.
Rider travels to Brooklyn to take on LIU Wednesday. "That's a tough place to play," Davis said. "It will be a good experience for these guys to play up there."
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