Box Score College Baseball
Rider University 13, NJIT 3
LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ—The Broncs walked away with a victory over The New Jersey Institute of Technology Wednesday afternoon at Sonny Pittaro Field. “We got off to a good start and were able to hold on,” said Rider head coach Barry Davis.
The Rider (9-17) nine scored nine runs in the first inning on just one hit and eight walks, along with three NJIT errors. “We took advantage of some walks,” Davis said. “It is always nice to get runs early.”
The one hit in the first inning was a three-run double by junior Justin Thomas (Richboro, PA/Council Rock South). “Justin got a big hit there,” Davis said.
“I'm just trying to stay consistent at the plate,” said Thomas, who entered the game batting .359, “putting a couple of good at bats together.”
Thomas now has 128 hits in 124 career games. “Last year I would have a couple of good at bats and then some bad at bats,” said Thomas, who batted .276 last year with 58 hits in 57 games. “This year I've been able to have more good at bats.”
Thomas had two doubles in the game and now has nine on the season and 27 doubles in his career. “He's swinging the bat well from the three-hole,” Davis said. “He's playing with some confidence after having some really good ball games for us.”
Rider sophomore Brian Donnelly (Churchville, PA/Council Rock South) also had two hits and three RBI.
Senior captain Nick Crescenzo (Hammonton, NJ/Hammonton) had two hits and now has 193 for his career, 15th most ever at Rider.
Making his fifth start of the season, junior David Hafer (Pine Grove, PA) pitched five innings to improve to 2-1 on the season. “For the most part he attacked the zone, which you have to do when you are spotted a big lead,” Davis said.
Hafer allowed six hits and struck out four.
Senior catcher Ken Kremer (Hershey, PA/Hershey) also had two hits, including a double, and scored twice.
It was the fourth game of the season between Rider and NJIT (9-12), with each team winning twice. Rider and NJIT first met in 1954 when the Broncs defeated the Newark College of Engineering. Rider has won nine of the 14 meetings.
Rider has now won three games in a row and four of the last six games. “We've won a couple ball games here and hopefully we can keep the momentum going,” Davis said.
“As a team we're starting to turn around and hit a lot better,” Thomas said. “We have a huge weekend coming up. It is a different environment up there.”
Rider returns to conference play this weekend with a three-game MAAC series at Saint Peter's, beginning with a 12 noon doubleheader Saturday. “They are a tough team to play up there,” Davis said. 'We are going to need to be ready to go.”
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