DOVER, DE – The Rider University baseball team fell on the road to Delaware State, 4-3, in 10 innings on Friday afternoon at Soldier Field.

The Broncs (2-3) got strong performances from their pitchers once again, but four miscues came back to haunt them in the loss, while the Hornets (2-2) won their second straight game.  

Trailing 2-0 in the top half of the ninth, Rider put the tying run in scoring position following a pair of walks and a sac bunt from senior Dallas Clark (Moorestown, NJ/Moorestown). Clark reached safely to load the bases on his bunt attempt with no one out. Sophomore Kyle Johnson (Jackson, NJ/Jackson Memorial) and freshman Lou Priolo (Vorhees, NJ/Eastern) would then hit back-to-back sac flies to tie game at two all.

After a scoreless bottom of the ninth, the Broncs took their first lead of the game as senior Harrison McClure (Atlanta, GA/North Atlanta) came racing home on a wild pitch in the top of 10th.

The Hornets would take advantage of a Rider error to start the bottom half of the frame to score the walk-off win. With two outs, DSU brought the winning run home on a single up the middle.

Freshman Vincent Vitacco (Staten Island, NY/Monsignor Farrell) was saddled with the tough-luck loss after working one and one-third innings and surrendering two unearned runs. Junior lefty Jordan Silverman (Holland, PA/Council Rock HS South) was stellar in relief for the Broncs, tossing four and a third innings of one-hit ball. Silverman also fanned five Hornets without surrendering a walk.   

NOTES & QUOTES
"Overall, I'm disappointed in how we played. We struck out 12 times, made four errors, communicated poorly, had poor execution of the fundamentals and at times looked like we never played a day in our lives or have been coached at all." – Rider Head Coach Barry Davis

"We pitched well today, allowing only two earned runs. Our pitchers deserved better. Vitacco and Silverman threw the final five and two-thirds innings without surrendering an earned run. Our clutch and timely hitting was non-existent as we left 11 runners on base." – Davis

- Rider has played back-to-back extra -inning games.
- The Broncs are 1-1 in extra-inning games this year.
- Rider committed four errors which led to two unearned runs, including the game-winning run. It was the second game this season in which the Broncs had four or more errors.

BRONCS BY THE NUMBERS
- Senior Jake Bender recorded his 100th career hit with a double in the top of the eighth.
- Richie Tecco went 2-for-4 with a walk. It was his first multi-hit game of the season.
- Christian Estevez also had a pair of hits for the Broncs. He went 2-for-5.
- Freshman Joe Papeo got the start for Rider. He went four innings and allowed two earned runs, while striking out a pair of hitter and scattering six hits.
- Vitacco has still not allowed an earned run in his career.

UP NEXT
Rider and Delaware close out a three-game series on Monday, February 26 with a doubleheader that is slated to get underway at noon.