College Baseball

Siena College 11, Rider University 7

LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ—The Broncs lost a rain-shortened Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game to Siena on Saturday. The second game of the doubleheader was rained out and will be played Sunday at 12 noon, followed by the third game of the series.

“Siena hit the ball today,” said Rider head coach Barry Davis. “They were on and played very well.”

Rider (13-30, 5-12 MAAC) tied the score at 5-5 in the fourth inning before Siena (18-28, 15-5 MAAC) scored two runs in the fifth inning on three hits and three more runs in the sixth inning on three hits and a Rider error. “We just do too many things wrong,” Davis said. “And when we score we need to put up a zero and it seems every time we score our opponent comes right back and scores.”

The Broncs took a 3-1 lead in the second inning when junior Justin Thomas (Richboro, PA/Council Rock South) hit a two-run single.

Thomas had four RBI on the day. Thomas and junior Greg Fazio (Far Hills/Ridge) each had two of Rider's nine hits. “Justin came up big a couple of times and Fazio had a good at bat.” Davis said.

Rider cut the lead to 10-7 in the seventh inning when Fazio tripled and scored on an RBI single by junior Eric Strano (Robbinsville).  Strano scored on a sacrifice fly by freshman Tyler Kaiser (Moorestown, NJ/Moorestown). “We've shown that we're pretty resilient,” Davis said. “We battle back.”

Junior Nick Richter (Fox River Grove, Ill./Cary-Grove) stole four more bases and scored three runs. The national leader in stolen bases with 37 in 43 games, Richter need just three more stolen bases to tie the Rider record set in 1967.

There was a 65 minute lightning delay and the tarp was put on the field. As soon as the tarp was taken off and the teams began to warm up the rains came and the game was called in the top of the eighth inning.

Prior to the first game Sunday Rider's three graduating seniors, Nick Crescenzo (Hammonton, NJ/Hammonton), Kyle Kennett (Spring Lake, NJ/St. Rose) and Ken Kremer (Hershey, PA/Hershey) will be honored prior to the start of their final home game.

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