FLEMINGTON, NJ – The Rider University baseball team fell on the road to Lafayette, 9-8, on Tuesday afternoon at Diamond Nation in non-conference action. The Leopards (2-5) scored the final five runs of the game to erase an 8-4 deficit and end their three-game losing streak, while the Broncs (4-4) saw their two-game road winning streak halted.

The freshmen trio of third basemen Jake Barbiere (Randolph, NJ/Randolph), left fielder Lou Priolo (Vorhhes, NJ/Eastern) and catcher Liam Harding (Staten Island, NY/Saint Peter's Boys) powered the Rider offense on Tuesday. The three first-years combined for six of the 11 Bronc hits on the day.

Clinging to a two-run edge in the bottom eighth, Rider saw the Leopard tie the game on a one-out triple following a hit by pitch to open the frame. With one out, Bronc reliever Jordan Silverman (Holland, PA/Council Rock HS South) saw the eventual game-winning run come home on an infield single. Freshman hurler Vincent Vitacco (Staten Island, NY/Monsignor Farrell) came on to get the final two outs of the frame for the Broncs.

In the top of the ninth, senior Jake Bender (Ellicott City, MD/Marriotts Ridge) led off with a single through the right side. After a strikeout, Bender was wiped out with an inning and game-ending double play.

Silverman was saddled with his first loss of the season for Rider. He tossed an inning and a third and surrendered three earned runs on three hits.

At the plate, Barbiere went 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored. Harding, Bender and senior Harrison McClure (Atlanta, GA/North Atalnta) all had two hits apiece for the Broncs.

NOTES & QUOTES
"Our bullpen was not as good as theirs today. We had an 8-4 lead with 12 outs to go and gave up five runs without scoring again. We had a poor effort defensively with the four errors. We didn't play good enough to win today. We just aren't tough enough right now. " – Rider Head Coach Barry Davis

- Rider is 2-2 in true road games this season.
- Rider erased on early two-run deficit with a three-run rally in the third. All three runs in the frame came with two outs capped by an RBI single to right by Barbiere.
- The Broncs committed four errors on the day.
- Three of Rider's four losses have come by one run. 

BRONCS BY THE NUMERS
- Joe Simone and Harrison McClure scored two runs apiece on the day.
- Simone had a season-high three walks. It was his second game this year with two or more walks.
- McClure's multi-hit game was his third of the season.
- Barbiere's three hits were a season-high and matched his career total entering the day.
- Harding made the most of his second career start behind the plate, racking up the first hits of his career.

UP NEXT
Rider returns this weekend , March 2-4 with a three-game set on the road against the University of Miami (Ohio). The Broncs and Red Hawks will play one game apiece on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Action on the weekend gets underway Friday at 5:00 pm.