Box Score College Baseball
Rider University 3, Kent State University 1 (12 innings)
KENT, OHIO—The Broncs defeated Kent State Saturday to even the series at 1-1. The third game will be played Sunday. “It was a good day for us,” said Rider head coach Barry Davis. “It was a nice win for the program against a very good team.”
In the top of the 12th inning sophomore Lee Lipinski (Glen Arm, MD/Calvert) hit a two-run home run to give Rider a 3-1 lead. “Huge hit,” Davis said. “He's been taking pretty good swings and today he ran into one. He got it up over the 25 foot high fence in right-center. He drove it.”
Freshman Jake Bender (Ellicot, Md./Marriotts Ridge) singled, his fourth hit of the game, and scored on Lipinski's homer, his second. “Jake has been swinging the bat pretty good,” Davis said. “He had a good at bat yesterday and a few more today.”
Senior Greg Fazio (Far Hills/Ridge) had two hits.
Senior David Hafer (Pine Grove, PA) pitched three shutout innings of relief, striking out five, for the victory. Hafer has all three Rider wins this year. “Hafer pitched great,” Davis said. “He was aggressive and threw strikes. The bullpen was excellent, pitching six innings with no runs.”
Senior Eric Thomas (Dallastown, PA/Dallastown Area) pitched a scoreless 12th for the save, his third of the season and seventh of his career.
Rider (3-8) tied the score at 1-1 in the top of the ninth inning with a bases loaded hit batsman.
A solo home run with two outs in the third inning gave Kent State (7-7) a 1-0 lead.
Rider junior Vincenzo Aiello (Staten Island, NY/Tottenville) started and pitched six innings, allowing one run on five hits while striking out three. “Vinnie was strong,” Davis said. “He pitched well. He gave us a chance to win.”
The third and final game of the series is Sunday at 1pm. “We feel good about going into tomorrow,” Davis said. “We're looking forward to going out there tomorrow and having a chance to win the series.”
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