Box Score College Baseball
Seton Hall University 4, Rider University 3
LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ—The Broncs dropped a non-conference game to Seton Hall Tuesday, giving up four unearned runs. “Our defense let us down today,” said Rider head coach Barry Davis.
Seton Hall (19-5) broke a 1-1 tie with three unearned runs in the seventh inning on three hits and two Rider errors.
Rider (6-15) tied the score at 1-1 when junior shortstop Mike Parsons (Liverpool, NY) hit a solo home run to lead off the third inning. “Mike's been swinging the bat,” Davis said. “He's not a home run hitter but he put a good swing on that one. It gave us a lift.”
It was the second career home run for Parsons and the first since his freshman season.
Parsons made his 135th consecutive start, sixth most in the nation among players who have played every game of their career.
Seton Hall took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when a lined drive to centerfield was dropped with two outs, allowing the runner on base to score. “We gave them a run in the very first inning,” Davis said, “on a play we should have made.”
Rider junior David Hafer (Pine Grove, PA) started and allowed six hits in four and one-third innings. “I thought our pitching was fine today,” Davis said. “We just gave it up on the defensive end.”
Rider senior Nick Crescenzo (Hammonton, NJ/Hammonton) singled and sophomore James Locklear (Hamilton, NJ/Steinert) doubled and both scored on ground outs in the ninth inning.
Crescenzo now has 189 career hits, 16th most ever at Rider.
Rider junior Justin Thomas (Richboro, PA/Council Rock South) had two of Rider's seven hits.
The last time Rider defeated Seton Hall was in 2010. Rider and Seton Hall have met 63 times since the series began in 1947, with Rider winning 22.
Rider hosts Marist in a three-game Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference series this weekend, beginning with a 12 noon doubleheader on Saturday. “We know the importance of these games,” Davis said. “Marist has always been a very good program and we know what they are capable of doing. We need to play better than we did today.”
-ru-
