PHILADELPHIA, PA – The Rider University baseball team fell on the road to La Salle, 7-5, on Friday afternoon in non-conference action at Hank DeVincent Field.

The Explorers (3-1) erased a late three-run deficit to earn their second win a row, while the Broncs (1-3) suffered their third straight setback.

Following an RBI double from Jack Peterson (Pittstown, NJ/North Hunterdon) in the top half in the fifth, Rider held a 5-2 edge.

After a scoreless inning of relief, Bronc freshman hurler Kyle Smith (Stratford, NJ/Sterling) was touched for four earned runs in the bottom half of seventh as La Salle rallied to take a 6-5 lead.

The hosts would add an insurance run in the home half of the eight to cap the scoring on the day.

Out of the bullpen, Smith was a saddled with the loss. In total, he worked one-plus innings and surrendered four earned runs, while striking out one.

NOTES & QUOTES
"Today was a case of not being able to close out the game with nine outs to go combined with the inability to produce multiple-hit innings. When you lose the big-inning war, which we did, your chances of success are reduced." – Rider Head Coach Barry Davis

- Rider scored one run in each of the first five innings.
- The Broncs had a season-high 10 hits.
- Rider committed a defensive miscue for the fourth game in a row.
- Three Broncs had multi-hit games.
- Each team had three stolen bases.

BRONCS BY THE NUMBERS
- Pete Soporowski had a strong start for Rider. He worked five innings and surrendered two earned runs. Soporowski scattered seven hits and fanned six Explorers without issuing a walk.
- In relief, Nick Payesko worked a scoreless ninth inning with a pair of strikeouts.
- Brennan McAllister went 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
- Peterson also had two hits and a pair of RBIs.
- Riley Mihalik went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Mihalik had recorded at least one RBI in all four of the team's games this season.

UP NEXT
Rider and La Salle continue their three-game weekend set with a single, nine-inning showdown on Saturday, February 23. First pitch is slated for 2:30 pm with sophomore Vincent Vitacco getting the start on the mound for the Broncs.