College Baseball

Kent State University 8, Rider University 5

KENT, OHIO—The Broncs lost the series to Kent State two games to one with a defeat Sunday afternoon. “We made too many mistakes,” said Rider head coach Barry Davis. “We struck out too many times.”

The Broncs struck out 13 times Sunday. “A lot of them looking,” Davis said. “Can't do that. We had nine hits, we had runners on base. We had opportunities, just weren't able to produce.”

Kent State  (8-7) scored two runs in the seventh inning to take an 8-3 lead.

For Rider (3-9) senior Nick Richter (Fox River Grove, Ill./Cary-Grove) had two hits, two walks, a stolen base and a run scored. Richter led the nation in stolen bases in 2014 with a Rider-record 41.

Senior Mike Parsons (Liverpool, NY) had a double and an RBI single that cut the lead to 8-4. Parsons has now started 172 consecutive games, the fourth longest streak in the nation.

In the top of the seventh inning Parsons doubled and Richter hit an RBI single to cut the lead to 6-3.

“When we swung the bat we were fine,” Davis said.

Freshman Nick Margevicius (North Royalton, Ohio/St. Ignatius) pitched five innings in his third career start, striking out four without a walk. “The bullpen let us down a little bit,” Davis said. “Nick threw fine. He did enough. We just have to help him on defense.”

Richter walked and after a single by senior Justin Thomas (Richboro, PA/Council Rock South) scored on an RBI single by senior Greg Fazio (Far Hills/Ridge) in fifth inning to cut the lead to 6-1.

An RBI double with two outs in the second inning gave Kent State a 1-0 lead and a solo home run in the fourth inning made it 2-0.

A two-run triple (“We misplayed a fly ball before that,” Davis said) and a home run in the fifth inning gave the host Golden Flash a 6-0 lead.

Rider stays in the Buckeye State to take on The Ohio State University Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. “They will be tough,” Davis said.

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