OXFORD, OH – The Rider University baseball team dropped a road non-conference contest against Miami (Ohio), 6-0, on Sunday afternoon at McKie Field.

The Broncs (4-7) dropped their fourth straight road game, while the RedHawks (8-3) won their sixth tilt in a row.  

Miami opened the scoring with a five-run outburst in the home half of the fourth. The RedHawks took advantage of Rider miscue to plate four unearned runs in the frame. The eventual game-winning run came around to score on a Bronc error.

The hosts tacked on an insurance run on the bottom of the eighth courtesy of sac fly to right field to close the scoring on the day.

On the mound, junior Zach Gakeler (Jobstown, NJ/North Burlington) worked the first three and two-thirds innings for the Broncs. Gakeler surrendered five runs, just one of which was earned, and scattered five hits in a losing effort.

Junior CJ Hirschy (Toms River, NJ/Toms River HS East) was solid out of the bullpen for Rider. Hirschy kept the Broncs in game by tossing three and a third scoreless innings.

NOTES & QUOTES
"We had a few opportunities to score today and we couldn't capitalize. We played poor defense in one inning, failing to make a play at a critical time. Giving up four unearned runs is difficult to overcome when you struggle scoring." – Rider Head Coach Barry Davis

"Gakeler pitched fine and CJ was sharp out of the pen giving us a chance to get back in it. Overall, I like the way we competed this weekend against a very good Miami (Ohio) team. Miami pitched and played above average defense. Miami was also ultra-aggressive at the plate and on the bases. This will help us moving forward. We now can see why we practice some of the things we do and if you can't see it you may need to rethink a few things." – Davis

- Rider is 2-5 in true road games this season.
- Rider committed one error on the day.
- Rider mustered just four hits at the plate.

BRONCS BY THE NUMERS
- Sophomore Joe Simone went 0-for-1 at the plate with three walks. It was his second game this season with three walks.  
- Senior Jake Bender accounted for half of Rider's hits, going 2-for-4 with a pair of singles. Bender's multi-hit game was his third of the year.
- Hirschy scattered three hits and fanned one in his relief stint.
- Freshman Vincent Vitacco also worked one inning of relief. He surrendered his first earned run of the season.

UP NEXT
Rider travels Navy for a three-game series to open spring break from March 9-11.