College Baseball

University of Delaware 9, Rider University 8

University of Delaware 8, Rider University 6 (5 innings)

NEWARK, DE—The Broncs lost a doubleheader at Delaware Tuesday. “We played knowing the weather was probably going to be a factor,” said Rider head coach Barry Davis, “and it ended up being a factor.”

Rider junior James Locklear (Hamilton, NJ/Steinert) had three hits, including a double, and four RBI on the day. “He swung the bat pretty good today,” Davis said.

Locklear had Rider's only hit in the second game, which was shortened due to rain.

Rider senior Justin Thomas (Richboro, PA/Council Rock South) also had three hits in the twin bill.

Both teams had 13 hits in the first game.  “We swung the bats a lot better in the first game,” Davis said.

In the first game Delaware (4-3) scored an unearned run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to break an 8-8 tie.

Delaware tied the score at 8-8 in the eighth inning with a triple and a Rider error. “That seems to be what we've been doing this year, taking a lead and giving it right back,” Davis said.

Rider (2-7) scored four runs in the eighth inning on four hits and three Delaware errors to take an 8-7 lead. The biggest hits of the inning were a double by junior Lee Lipinski (Glen Arm, MD/Calvert) and an RBI single by senior Eric Strano (Robbinsville) that gave Rider its first lead of the day.

Senior Nick Richter (Fox River Grove, Ill./Cary-Grove) scored from second on Strano's hit. “Strano's ball hit the first base bag and Richter scored on it all the way from second base,” Davis said. “He was aggressive on the play and it was bang-bang at the plate.”

Delaware scored two runs in the sixth inning on three hits and a sacrifice fly to take a 7-4 lead.

Locklear hit a two-run double in the sixth inning to cut the lead to 5-4. “That was a big hit by Locklear,” Davis said.

Rider scored two runs in the fifth inning on a single, a walk, two hit batters and a dropped third strike, cutting the Delaware lead to 5-2.

Delaware scored three runs in the fourth inning on four hits, including an RBI double and a two-run home run, to take a 5-0 lead. “We got behind early and battled back,” Davis said.

A two-out RBI double gave Delaware a 1-0 lead in the third inning and a Rider error made it 2-0.

Senior Kurt Sowa (Bensalem, PA/Fr. Judge) pitched five and one-third innings, striking out seven without a walk. Sowa allowed six earned runs in the no decision.

Richter and junior Patrick Murphy (McHenry, Ill./McHenry) hit doubles in the first game. Murphy had two of Rider's 13 hits, as did Strano and Lipinski. “I thought Pat Murphy did a good job today at the plate,” Davis said.

In the second game the Broncs cut the lead to 8-6 in the fifth on a pair of hit batters and an error.

Rider scored five runs in the fourth inning on five walks, a hit batter and a two-run single by Locklear to cut the Delaware lead to 7-5. “We were trailing so we were forced to take strikes and they couldn't throw any,” Davis said. “The mound was a mess with the rain. We got ourselves back into the game.”

Delaware scored five runs in the third inning on five hits and two Rider errors to take a 7-0 lead. “In the second game we sorta got behind the eight-ball and trailed seven nothing,” Davis said.

Delaware hit a pair of solo home runs with two outs to take a 2-0 lead in the second inning.

Delaware took two of three games from Rider last year after these two teams had not met since 2008. Rider and Delaware were East Coast Conference rivals from 1975-1988.  The two teams have now met 87 times since the series began in 1970, with Rider winning 26.

Rider now travels to the Buckeye State to take on Kent State (March 13-15) and Ohio State (March 17-18). “We have a tough series this weekend,” Davis said.  “Kent State is very good.”

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