JERSEY CITY, NJ – The Rider University baseball team completed a three-game sweep against Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) foe Saint Peter's on Sunday afternoon, taking both ends of a doubleheader at Jaroschak Field. The Broncs (13-15, 5-4 MAAC) ran their winning streak to five games, while the Peacocks (0-14, 0-6 MAAC) have suffered 14 setbacks in a row to open the year. Rider took the opener, 28-4, and blanked the hosts, 7-0, in the finale.  

The 24-run outburst from the Broncs in game one was a season-high as the guests plated six runs in both the first and second frames to put the game out of reach early. Rider smacked a season-best 26 hits in the first contest of the day and took advantage of a pair of Saint Peter's miscues.

In the second game, a trio of Bronc pitchers scattered seven hits and kept the Peacocks off the board en route to their fifth league win of the season.

Offensively, senior Tyler Kaiser (Moorestown, NJ/Moorestown) led the charge in game one going 2-for-3 with two runs scored and four RBIs. The big blow early in the contest was a three-run homer by Kaiser. The home run was his second of the season and one of four in the game for Rider. Senior Mike Volaski (Oxnard, CA/Ventura CC/Oxnard) also had four RBIs in the win as he smacked three hits, while Kyle Johnson (Jackson, NJ/Jackson Memorial), Dalton Mayberry (Chadds Ford, PA/Marist College/Cumberland CC/Garnet Valley) and Richie Tecco (Drexel Hill, PA/Monsignor Bonner) all chipped in three RBIs apiece.

In the nightcap, Christian Estevez (River Edge, NJ/River Dell) delivered a two-run double and Brian Uliana (Bethlehem, PA/Freedom) had a two-run single for Rider.  

On the mound, a pair of Rider freshman stole the show as classmate Pete Soporowski (South Amboy, NJ/Sayreville War Memorial) and John Yocum (Easton, PA/Freedom) were both impressive in their starts. Soporowski tossed five innings and allowed just one earned run to pick up his second career win. In the finale, Yocum hurled seven scoreless innings and scattered just five hits in his conference debut. Yocum fanned eight hitters without allowing a walk to earn his second triumph of the spring as well.

NOTES & QUOTES

“Pete was really impressive in game one,” Rider Head Coach Barry Davis said. “He threw just 51 pitches in five innings. Offensively, it was just one of those days at the plate. Scoring six runs in the first inning of the opener set the tone.”

“Christian Estevez had a big hit to break the game open in game two,” Davis added. “McClure had a couple of RBIs to put us up and give us some breathing room. On the mound, Yocum was very good in his seven innings.”

- Last season, Rider took two-of-three from the Peacocks in Lawrenceville to close out the regular season. The Broncs have won eight of their last nine games against Saint Peter's.

- Game one was the most lopsided loss for the Peacocks in 2017, while it was the largest margin of victory this spring for the Broncs. 

- The 24 runs scored in game one were the most for the Broncs since the team erupted for 20 runs in MAAC victory against Siena last season. 

- The two RBIs in game two were the first of the season for Uliana.

- Christian Estevez has recorded all four of his RBIs in conference play.

- Jake Bender, Tyler Stockwell and Dalton Mayberry all hit home runs for the Broncs in game one.

ON DECK

Rider begins a four-game homestand with a non-conference showdown against Wagner on Wednesday, April 12. The tilt is slated to get underway at 3:30 pm at Sonny Pittaro Field.