College Baseball

Rider University 5, Delaware State University 1

LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ—The Broncs used seven pitchers and collected seven hits to defeat Delaware State Wednesday afternoon. “Any time you give up just one run you should win the ball game,” said Rider head coach Barry Davis.

Rider senior Eric Strano (Robbinsville) caught all seven pitchers and hit an RBI single in the second inning to give Rider a 1-0 lead. “It was good to get the lead and keep it,” said Strano, a veteran of 133 games who missed most of last year with an injury. “It is beautiful to be playing again.  You really realize how much you miss and love baseball when you are out like that.”

Strano scored on a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning for a 4-1 lead.

Senior Kurt Sowa (Bensalem, PA/Fr. Judge) started but threw just one inning as prep for this weekend's MAAC game at Canisius. “Kurt was real sharp in the first inning,” Davis said.  “He looked good as we got him ready for the weekend.”

Freshman CJ Hirschy (Toms River, NJ/Toms River East) pitched three and one-third innings of shutout relief to earn the win, his first. “Hirschy was good, considering he hasn't thrown a lot,” Davis said. “We needed that.”

Rider (6-14) made it 2-0 in the fourth inning on a ground out RBI, and took a 3-1 lead in the sixth inning on singles by sophomore Lee Lipinski (Glen Arm, MD/Calvert) and junior Patrick Murphy (McHenry, Ill./McHenry) and Lipinski scored on a wild pitch.

Rider senior Justin Thomas (Richboro, PA/Council Rock South) hit an RBI single in the seventh inning for the final score.

Delaware State (6-16) also used seven pitchers and scored their lone run on a solo home run in the sixth inning.

Rider travels to Buffalo to play a three-game MAAC series at Canisius Friday and Saturday. “We're going to have to be ready,” Davis said.  “Canisius is very good, like they have been every year since I've been here. It is going to be a big challenge for us.”

“We're ready to play some conference games,” Strano said. “We've been chomping at the bit. This is what we play for. I'm excited to see the atmosphere and the higher intensity that conference games bring.”

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