College Baseball

Rutgers University 9, Rider University 3

PISCATAWAY, NJ—The Broncs lost at Rutgers Wednesday. “We swung the bat decent all day,” said Rider head coach Barry Davis, “even thought we did not get a lot of hits. I don't think the score is indicative of the game.”

Rutgers out-hit Rider 12-6.

Rutgers (6-14) scored five runs in the fifth inning on four hits, two walks, a Rider  error and a sacrifice fly to take an 8-3 lead. “That was the ballgame,” Davis said. “The big inning kills you. When they score more in one inning than you score in the whole game, you ain't going to win.”

Back-to-back doubles by Rider senior Eric Strano (Robbinsville) and junior Jordan Leinweber (Castle Rock, CO/Douglas County) tied the score at 3-3 in the fifth inning.

“Early in the game we were right there,” Davis said. “We had some opportunities.”

Rutgers scored three runs in the fourth inning to take a 3-2 lead.

An RBI double by junior Patrick Murphy (McHenry, Ill./McHenry) gave Rider a 1-0 lead in the first inning. “We showed signs of being able to score today,” Davis said. “We didn't think we were overmatched at all.”

The Broncs (4-11) took a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning when senior Greg Fazio (Far Hills/Ridge) singled and eventually scored on a double play.

Rider freshman pitcher Paul Sparano (Ewing, NJ/Ewing) started and went four innings, allowing two earned runs while striking out two. “It was an improvement over his last outing, and that's what we're looking for, but too many deep counts,” Davis said. “Eighty pitches in four innings is too much.”

Freshman CJ Hirschy (Toms River, NJ/Toms River East) pitched two shutout innings in relief, allowing one hit without a walk. “CJ might have been the highlight of the game, the way he threw,” Davis said.  “He threw the ball really well.”

Rider lost 6-4 at Rutgers last year. The Broncs defeated Rutgers 9-3 at Rider in 2013. Rutgers leads the all-time series 39-27.

Rider plays a three-game series at St. John's beginning Friday. “This is a tough stretch of our schedule up north,” Davis said. “St. John's will be as good as anybody we've played this season. You play good teams to make you better.”

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