ELON, NC – Junior designated hitter Riley Mihalik (Churchville, PA/Chestnut Hill Academy) recorded his 100th career hit for the Rider University baseball team on Saturday afternoon in a 21-1 loss to Elon in non-conference action at Latham Park.

The Phoenix (10-9) earned the series victory with their second straight win against the Broncs (5-13).

Elon scored early and often for the second day in a row. After the first nine hitters were retired in the contest, the hosts erupted for five runs on four hits in the bottom half of the second inning off Rider starter Pete Soporowski (South Amboy, NJ/Sayreville War Memorial).

Elon added three more runs in the third and fourth innings before scoring two more in the fifth to put the game out of reach.

At the plate, Mihalik paced the Bronc attack with three hits, while sophomore shortstop Richie Tecco (Drexel Hill, PA/Monsignor Bonner) recorded a pair of hits.

With one out and a runner on first in the top of the fourth, Mihalik hit a single up the middle for his 100th career hit. He became the second Bronc this season to reach the milestone joining teammate Jake Bender (Elliott City, MD/Marriotts Ridge).

NOTES
- Rider is 3-11 in true road games this season.
- Rider had nine hits and committed three errors.
- The Broncs allowed a season-high 21 runs and 24 hits.
- The Broncs were 1-of-8 at the plate with runners in scoring position.

 BRONCS BY THE NUMBERS
- Riley Mihalik ran his hitting streak to nine games. He now has 102 career hits. The three-hit game was his second of the season. He also hit a season-best two doubles. He now has five doubles on the year.
- Tecco's multi-hit game was his second of the spring. He has started every game in 2018 for the Broncs as short.
- Soporowski was saddled with his second loss of the year. It was his first start this spring where he has allowed more than one earned run.

UP NEXT
Rider and Elon conclude their three-game, weekend series with a nine-inning tilt on Sunday, March 18 that is slated to begin at 1:30 pm.