College Baseball
Rider University 15, Radford University 7
Rider University 5, Radford University 3
BLACKSBURG, VA-The Broncs scored four runs in the top of the last inning for a come-from-behind win over Radford in the second game of a doubleheader Saturday, sweeping the Big South Conference Highlanders three games to none. "Not a bad day, not a bad trip," said Rider head coach Barry Davis.
In the second game, Rider (5-1) trailed 3-1 after six innings before sophomore Mike Parsons (Liverpool, NY) doubled and junior Nick Crescenzo (Hammonton, NJ/Hammonton) hit a two-run triple to tie the score.
"Parsons had the big hit, setting up the big inning," Davis said.
Senior Ian Lindsay (Oaklyn/Haddon Twp.) hit an RBI double for the game-winner, his 99th career hit.
"The second game was a real good ball game," Davis said. "Their starting pitcher was in command of the game. In the seventh we bunched some hits together and that's what you have to do to beat good teams."
Parsons and senior Adam Wayman (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./G.A.R. Memorial) each had two of Rider's eight hits.
"Wayman and Parsons were very consistent all weekend," Davis said.
Rider sophomore Kurt Sowa (Bensalem, PA/Fr. Judge) pitched the complete game, improving to 2-0 on the season and 7-4 in his young career. "I thought Sowa was in command of the game," Davis said.
Sowa struck out five and walked just one. "He did a good job in tough conditions today, 30-something degrees and snowing," Davis said.
Radford (5-4) took a 3-1 lead on a home run in the sixth inning.
In the first game, Rider collected 17 hits, including nine doubles. Sophomore Greg Fazio (Far Hills/Ridge), junior Jerry Mulderig (Langhorne, PA/Council Rock South) and Parsons each had three hits, while Wayman and Crescenzo each had three RBI.
"We swung the bat in the first game," Davis said, "but it seemed every time we scored they'd score. We didn't play great defense, but we got some big hits when we needed them."
Rider junior Mike Murphy (Hamilton/Peddie) pitched four and two-thirds innings, allowing four earned runs while striking out four. "Murph pitched better than the box score shows," Davis said. "We dropped a few balls behind him."
The Broncs scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning on four hits, including a two-run single by Mulderig, to take a 15-5 lead.
Rider scored three runs in the sixth inning on five hits, including a bases clearing double by Crescenzo, to take a 12-5 lead
Radford scored two runs on two hits in the fifth inning to cut the lead to 9-5.
Mulderig doubled in the fifth inning and scored on a double by Crescenzo. Rider's seventh double of the game, giving the Broncs a 9-3 lead. "Jerry had a big hit there," Davis said.
The Broncs scored four runs in the fourth inning on two hits, a hit batsman, a walk and two wild pitches to take a 7-3 lead. Parsons doubled and Wayman hit a two-run single in the fourth.
Rider took a 3-2 lead in the third inning when sophomore Justin Thomas (Richboro, PA/Council Rock South) doubled and scored on a double by Fazio.
The Broncs took a 2-0 lead in the first inning when sophomore Eric Strano (Robbinsville) doubled and scored on a double by Wayman and Wayman scored on a single by Fazio.
The Broncs are scheduled to host Lafayette in Flemington, NJ Tuesday and host Lehigh at Rider Wednesday. "We're getting better but we have a long way to go," Davis said. "We played pretty well against a good team but it is early in the season, so we can't get too excited about this. But I'm certainly pleased."
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