LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – The Rider University baseball team lost to visiting Seton Hall, 9-0, on Wednesday afternoon in non-conference action at Sonny Pittaro Field. The Broncs (18-25-1) dropped their third in a row at home, while the Pirates (25-20) won their second straight.

Seton Hall got off to a quick start, plating six runs on four hits in the first inning. The first seven Pirates reached base safely in the opening frame and the guests would later chase the Rider starter after just one-third of an inning. Seton Hall would add two runs in the second and one more in the third to stretch their lead to 9-0 after two and a half innings. Over the final six innings, the Bronc bullpen would keep the Seton Hall offense at  bay.
 

Offensively, freshman Kyle Johnson (Jackson, NJ/Jackson Memorial) was the lone Bronc to record more than one hit in the game. He went 2-for-4 with a pair of singles. The other two starters with hits in the game were outfielder Tyler Kaiser (Moorestown, NJ/Moorestown) and shortstop Richie Tecco (Drexel Hill, PA/Monsignor Bonner). Kaiser laid down a bunt in the second for the first Rider hit of the game and Tecco slapped a singled down the left-field line with no outs in the ninth.

On the mound, sophomore righty Dylan Simcik (Newtown, PA/Holy Ghost Prep) was saddled with the loss for the Broncs. In his first start of the spring, Simcik went .1 innings and allowed six earned runs, while scattering four hits and walking three Pirates. Simcik moved to 3-3 on the year.

NOTES & QUOTES

“We need to hit,” Rider Head Coach Barry Davis said. “We went with Simcik because we were trying to find a midweek starter. He tried and worked hard, but we got behind early. We just need to be better offensively. Our bullpen from Mike Diorio on was great today. Josh was strong and gave us a chance to get back in the game by shutting them down.”

- Josh Sharik made his team-leading 26th appearance out of the bullpen for Rider. He worked three scoreless innings of relief, surrendering two hits and striking out three. It marked the fourth time this spring that he has tossed three or more innings in relief for the Broncs. His three strikeouts also tied a season-high, which he has posted two other outings this spring.  

- Johnson's multi-hit game was his 17th of the season and his second in a row. Over his last two games, the first-year leadoff hitter is 5-for-8. He also leads the team with 50 hits after upping his average to .294.

- Jordan Silverman worked a perfect eighth inning in relief for Rider, striking out one. He is currently second on the team with a 3.57 ERA. Anthony Arneth also retired the Pirates in order in the ninth for Rider. In total, the Bronc bullpen kept the guests off the board over the final six innings. 

- On Tuesday, freshman starting pitcher John Yocum was tabbed as the MAAC Rookie of the Week. It marked the second time this season that he has earned the weekly distinction. He is the only first-year pitcher in the league to receive the accolade more than once.

BRONCS BY THE NUMBERS

- Reliever Andrew Tumbelty pitched well out of the pen, going 1.1 innings and striking out three Pirates. Tumbelty scattered three hits and walked one. 

- Christian Esteves had a pinch-hit single for the Broncs. Also in his only plate of the day, Brennan McAllister lined a single to left field for Rider. 

- Rider relievers retired the final eight batters that they faced. 

- Earlier this season, Tyler Kaiser and Lee Lipinski reached a milestone for the Broncs. Both players topped the 100-hit plateau for their careers this spring.

ON DECK

Rider closes outs its 2017 conference schedule with a home three-game MAAC series against in-state rival Monmouth that gets underway with a single, nine-inning contest on Saturday, May 13, at 3:30 pm. Entering the weekend, the Broncs are tied for sixth in the league with a 10-11 mark.