College Baseball
Rider University 5, Norfolk State University 2
Norfolk State University 6, Rider University 4
NORFOLK, VA-The Broncs split the 2013 season opening doubleheader at Norfolk State Sunday. "Overall, the first day with live pitching, even though we were capable of winning both, we're not disappointed," said Rider head coach Barry Davis. "We'll take the split. It was good to get out and play. We did some good things."
In the first game Rider (1-1) senior Tyler Smith (Westmont/Haddon Twp.) pitched six innings, allowing two runs on five hits, striking out five while walking just two for the victory. "Tyler was effective," Davis said. "He certainly kept us in the game. He did what we needed him to do."
A Preseason All-American closer in 2012, Smith moved to the starting rotation mid-season last year and is now 15-12 in his career, 5-5 as a starter.
RBI singles by junior Nick Crescenzo (Hammonton, NJ/Hammonton), senior Ian Lindsay (Oaklyn/Haddon Twp.) and sophomore Eric Strano (Robbinsville) in the sixth inning gave Rider a 5-2 lead.
Rider took a 2-1 lead in the fifth inning on a two-out, RBI single by sophomore Justin Thomas (Richboro, PA/Council Rock South).
Junior Jerry Mulderig (Langhorne, PA/Council Rock South) collected Rider's first hit of the season, a two-out single in the fourth inning, and scored on a single by junior Ken Kremer (Hershey, PA/Hershey) to give the Broncs a 1-0 lead.
"Jerry had some good at bats," Davis said.
Senior Sean Kuberiet (Branchburg/Somerville) pitched a one-two-three ninth inning for the save, the first of his career. "Our bullpen shut them down," Davis said.
In the second game senior Adam Wayman (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./G.A.R. Memorial) hit a bases loaded pop up with two outs that was dropped, scoring sophomore Mike Parsons (Liverpool, NY) and freshman James Locklear (Hamilton, NJ/Steinert) for the final score.
Norfolk State (2-3) scored four runs in the first inning and one in the fifth to take a 5-2 lead.
Wayman hit an RBI double and sophomore Greg Fazio (Far Hills/Ridge) hit an RBI triple to give Rider a 2-0 lead in the first inning.
"Fazio was hot," Davis said. "He swung the bat and hit the ball hard. A couple of his outs were hit hard."
Locklear doubled in his first collegiate at bat.
"We really didn't threaten a lot in the second game," Davis said.
The Broncs and Spartans played a four-game series last year, with host NSU winning the first game before Rider came back to win the next three.
The third game of the series is Monday at 12 noon. "Hopefully we'll be able to take the series tomorrow," Davis said. "Tomorrow will determine how the weekend goes."
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