College Baseball
Rider University 10, NJIT 2
NEWARK-The Broncs won the three game series (2-1) with the New Jersey Institute of Technology with a convincing victory Sunday afternoon.
Junior right-hander Mike Murphy (Hamilton/Peddie) got the win, his second of the season but just the first in three consecutive quality starts (just two earned runs in last 22 innings).
"We finally got some runs for him," said Rider head coach Barry Davis.
The 2012 MAAC Pitcher of the Year, Murphy allowed just four hits while striking out five in six shutout innings for his 12th career win.
"He had good stuff today," Davis said. "He pitched out of a couple of jams when we made a couple errors so we were fortunate that he made some pitches there."
NJIT (6-12) did not get on the scoreboard until the seventh inning, trailing 9-0.
The Broncs (10-9) broke the game open with a six-run seventh inning.
An RBI triple by sophomore catcher Eric Strano (Robbinsville) and RBI singles by senior Adam Wayman (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./G.A.R. Memorial), sophomore Justin Thomas (Richboro, PA/Council Rock South), junior Nick Crescenzo (Hammonton, NJ/Hammonton) and sophomore Greg Fazio (Far Hills/Ridge) gave Rider a 9-0 lead in the seventh.
"Strano's blocking the ball behind the plate, throwing guys out (two Sunday), and he's hitting the ball too," Davis said. "He's giving us good at bats."
Crescenzo had three of Rider's 12 hits and scored three runs.
Crescenzo has batted leadoff and ninth this year and almost everywhere in between. "We have him in the middle of the line up now and feel pretty good about that," Davis said. "Despite missing the fall (coming off an injury) he's good with runners in scoring position and we need some production out of the middle of the line up."
Wayman, Thomas, Fazio and Strano each had two hits on the day. Wayman's RBI was the 100th of his career. Fazio has two RBIs.
"Wayman's hit in the second inning was on a 12-pitch at bat," Davis said. "That was key to getting to their pitcher. He's been really good but we got his pitch count up to 100 in the fourth inning, and that certainly played to our advantage."
A two-run single by sophomore Mike Parsons (Liverpool, NY) and a sacrifice fly by Fazio gave the Broncs a 3-0 lead in the fourth inning.
Rider's middle infielders, Parsons and Fazio, combined for three hits and four RBI from the bottom of the order. "They've both been swinging the bat better," Davis said. "Mike had a big hit early."
The Broncs are scheduled to host Rutgers Tuesday at 3:30.
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