College Baseball

University of Delaware 11, Rider University 5

BEL AIR, MD—After winning the first game Friday the Broncs dropped the second game of the three game series with Delaware on Saturday, held at Harford Community College's turf field.

“We'll take this split,” said Rider head coach Barry Davis, “and go after winning the series tomorrow.”

Delaware (5-7) broke open a 3-2 game with five runs in the fourth inning on three hits and three walks to take an 8-2 lead. “We have to find a way to stop the big innings,” Davis said. “Can't win games when you give up five runs in an inning.”

Rider (3-7) tied the score at 2-2 in the top of the third inning on two walks and two hits, including an RBI single by junior Nick Richter (Fox River Grove, Ill./Cary-Grove). Richter had two of Rider's six hits and two RBI.

“Richter swung the bat,” Davis said. “But we only had six hits and it is tough to win with just six hits. We struck out 12 times, but give their pitcher credit. He's been averaging a strikeout an inning so we aren't the only people he's been striking out. He threw well.”

Sophomore James Locklear (Hamilton, NJ/Steinert) also had two hits for the Broncs, while freshman Nick Kagel (Lawrenceville, NJ/Lawrence) had a double and scored twice. “Nick hit the ball hard and made some hard outs,” Davis said. “He looked comfortable at the plate. He did a good job.”

Rider senior  Nick Crescenzo (Hammonton, NJ/Hammonton) had a single and an RBI.

The Blue Hens had 12 hits off of six Rider pitchers.

Rider freshman Ben Deaver (Fallston, Md./Calvert Hall) and freshman Josh Sharik (Ewing, NJ/Plumstead Christian) each threw well in relief. “They did their job,” Davis said of his rookie relievers. “They came in and got the outs.”

Saturday was the second of a three-game series at Delaware with the third game Sunday at 1pm. “We've got a chance to win the series tomorrow,” Davis said.

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