College Baseball

Broncs MAAC Regular Season Champions

Rider University 8, Monmouth University 4

Monmouth University 6, Rider University 4

LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ—The Broncs split a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference doubleheader with Monmouth Thursday.

With the victory, Rider clinches the top seed in the six-team MAAC Championship Tournament May 20-23 in Fishkill, NY as the Regular Season Champion. “That was a goal when we started the season,” said Rider head coach Barry Davis.  “It's exciting to be able to accomplish it.”

In the first game senior Zach Mawson (Magnolia, DE/Caesar Rodney) pitched into the seventh inning, allowing just two earned runs while striking out five. “He showed why he is the pitcher that he is,” Davis said.

With the win Mawson completes the regular season 6-0 vs. MAAC teams, 6-2 overall. “That's impressive,” Davis said.

Senior Eric Strano (Robbinsville) hit a two-run single in the seventh inning for an 8-3 lead.

Monmouth scored a run in the ninth inning for the final score.

Sophomore Tyler Kaiser (Moorestown, NJ/Moorestown) hit a pinch-hit, two-run home run in the sixth inning to give Rider a 6-2 lead. “That was a big hit,” Davis said.  “He's been swinging the bat pretty good.”

Monmouth cut the lead to 6-3 in the seventh inning with a run on two hits.

The Broncs went up 4-1 in the second inning when senior Nick Richter (Fox River Grove, Ill./Cary-Grove) singled, stole second and scored on an RBI single by junior James Locklear (Hamilton, NJ/Steinert).  Richter and Locklear each had two of Rider's 10 hits in the first game.

Monmouth scored an unearned run in the third inning to cut the lead to 4-1, and scored on a wild pitch to cut the lead to 4-2 in the fifth.

Rider scored three runs in the first inning on three hits, including an RBI single by senior Justin Thomas (Richboro, PA/Council Rock South), a sacrifice fly by senior Greg Fazio (Far Hills/Ridge), and a pair of Monmouth errors.

In the second game, a scheduled seven inning contest, Monmouth (22-21, 14-9 MAAC) scored two runs in the top of the ninth inning on two hits, including a solo home run and a Rider error, to take a 6-4 lead.

Rider (27-20, 14-6 MAAC) tied the score in the seventh inning on a sacrifice fly by Richter and an RBI single by Locklear, sending the game into extra innings.

Monmouth scored two runs in the first inning on three hits, including a pair of doubles to take a 2-0 lead and scored two more in the fifth inning on two walks and two singles to take a 4-1 lead.

Rider senior Mike Parsons (Liverpool, NY) singled in the third inning and eventually scored on a passed ball to cut the lead to 2-1 and scored on an error in the fifth to cut the lead to 4-2.

Monmouth had won the previous six meetings with Rider, including all three last year. The last time Rider defeated Monmouth was during the 2009 season.

Rider and Monmouth are former Northeast Conference rivals. The two teams have now met 62 times since the series began in 1976, with Rider winning 33.

Rider was also the MAAC Regular Season Champion in 2013. In 1998 Rider won the MAAC South back when the conference had two divisions. “It's a long year,” Davis said, “and a lot of things have to happen for you. The guys played well, pretty consistent every weekend I am proud of the guys for accomplishing it and I think we deserve it.”

The third game of the series, the regular season finale, will be played Saturday at 12 noon.  Prior to Saturday's game Rider's 11 graduating seniors will be honored. “It is a very strong, good class,” Davis said of his graduating seniors.  “It's sad to see them go. It is a great group. Hopefully we'll play well in their last home game.”

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