PHILADELPHIA, PA – The Rider University baseball team dropped a 3-0 decision on the road versus regional foe La Salle on Saturday afternoon at Hank DeVincent Field.

The Broncs (1-4) dropped their fourth straight game, while the Explorers (4-1) earned the series win and picked up their third victory in a row.

Rider got a strong outing on the mound from sophomore right-hander Vincent Vitacco (Staten Island, NY/Monsignor Farrell). Vitacco was the tough-luck loser as worked six and two-thirds innings and scattered six hits. All three of the runs that Vitacco allowed were unearned.

In a scoreless game in the bottom of the seventh, La Salle put runners on the corners with one out following a Bronc error. After a sac fly, the Explorers registered back-to-back run-scoring hits to chase Vitacco.

Senior Zach Gakeler (Jobstown, NJ/North Burlington) was able to get out of the jam for Rider out of the bullpen.

Rider threatened in the top of the third, as the first two batters that came to the plate reached base safely courtesy of a single up the middle and a walk. The Broncs were unable to string anything together as the next three batters were all retired.

The Broncs once again placed two runners on with no outs in the top of the ninth as Kyle Johnson (Jackson, NJ/Jackson Memorial) walked and Riley Mihalik (Churchville, PA/Chestnut Hill Academy) followed with a single. The Explorer closer would get out the jam as he set down the next three batters he faced to seal the win.

NOTES & QUOTES
"Vinnie Vitacco pitched well enough to win today. He threw six scoreless innings and with some help he completes the seventh. We had little to no offense. You can't win if you can't score." – Rider Head Coach Barry Davis

- The Broncs were shutout for the first time this season.  
- Rider has committed an error in all five of their games this year.
- The Broncs have recorded at least six hits in every one of their games in 2019.
- Rider left eight runners on base.

BRONCS BY THE NUMBERS
- In his second appearance of the season, Vitacco registered his first quality start. He set down the side in order four times. He struck out seven La Salle batters.
- Gakeler worked the final inning and a third for the Broncs. He did not surrender a hit, while striking out one and issuing one walk.
- Riley Mihalik paced the Bronc attack by going 3-for-4. It was his third multi-hit game of the season.
- Joe Simone, Liam Harding and Richie Tecco had the other Rider hits. Simone also had a steal for the Broncs.
- Kyle Johnson also reached base twice for Rider thanks to walking twice.  

UP NEXT
Rider and La Salle close out a three-game weekend set on Sunday, February 24, with a single, nine-inning contest that is slated to begin at 1:00 pm. Sophomore Joe Papeo will get the start on the bump for the Broncs.