PHILADELPHIA, PA – The Rider University baseball team fell on the road to regional foe Saint Joseph's, 4-3, on Wednesday afternoon at Smithson Field in non-conference action.

The Hawks (16-20) won for the second straight day, while the Broncs (10-24) dropped their third straight out of league contest by one run.

Trailing, 1-0, in the top of the sixth Rider rallied to plate two runs courtesy of a Saint Joseph's error. With no outs and runners on first and second, senior Jake Bender (Ellicott City, MD/Marriotts Ridge) laid down a sac bunt and the Hawks threw the ball away to bring the Rider runners charging home and give the Broncs their first lead of the day.

The advantage was short-lived as SJU answered with three runs in the bottom half of the frame. All of the Hawk damage came with two outs in the frame. Rider reliever Anthony Arneth (Pine Beach, NJ/Central Regional) retired the first two batters he faced before the third reached on a wild pitch after striking out. Following a walk, the hosts got a run-scoring single up the middle to knot the tilt at two and chase Arneth from the game.

Saint Joseph's took the lead for good as Bronc southpaw Jordan Silverman (Holland, PA/Council Rock HS South) gave up a two-run triple left center to make it 4-2 in favor of the Hawks.

Rider threatened in the ninth, but the Bronc rally fell short. With two outs and the bases loaded, designated hitter Brennan McAllister (Middletown, DE/Middletown) slapped an RBI single through the left side to make it a one-run game. The Hawk closer was able to get out of the jam as Riley Mihalik (Churchville, PA/Chestnut Hill Academy) flied out to right field to end the game.

On the mound, Arneth was saddled with the loss to move 0-2 on the season.  

NOTES & QUOTES
"Same story, different day. To win consistently at this level you can't take a pitch off. You must compete on every one. We failed to hit in situations with two outs and failed to make pitches. There are a lot of good things I see, but there's much to correct and clean up." – Rider Head Coach Barry Davis

- Both Rider and Saint Joseph's had eight hits apiece.
- The Hawks committed two errors and Rider had zero fielding miscues.
- The Broncs were 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position.
- Rider had nine runners left on base.
- The Broncs are now 1-10 in one-run games this season.

 BRONCS BY THE NUMBERS
- Freshman Joe Papeo got the start on the bump for the Broncs. He tossed the first two innings and surrendered one earned run, while scattering three hits and striking out one Hawk. Over his last 10 innings of work, he has surrendered just two earned runs.
- Junior Nick Payesko was stellar in relief for Rider. He retired the final nine Hawks he faced after surrendering back-to-back hits upon entering the game. He set the side down in order in both the fourth and fifth innings. In total, he tossed three scoreless innings and scattered two hits to go along with a pair of strikeouts.
- Off the bench, sophomore Tyler Stockwell went 2-for-2. It was his second straight two-hit game for the Broncs. He has had a hit or more in eight of his last nine games.
- Also in relief, CJ Hirschy tossed a scoreless inning of relief with one strikeout. He has not allowed a run over his last five appearances (11.1 innings of work). He lowered his team-best ERA to 3.23 on the year.

UP NEXT
The Broncs return to action this weekend, April 28-29 with a three-game Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) set at home versus Canisius. The pivotal league series with the Golden Griffins gets underway on Saturday the 28th with a doubleheader starting at noon.