RICHMOND, VA – The Rider University baseball team dropped both ends of a doubleheader against Richmond on Saturday at Pitt Field. The Spiders took the opener, 6-1, and the Broncs dropped the nightcap, 10-1.

In game one, Richmond erased an early one-run deficit to score a 6-1 victory. Rider opened the scoring in the top of the first as Joe Simone (Wayne, NJ/Wayne Hills) led off with, advanced to third on a single by Brennan McAllister (Middletown, DE/Middletown) and came around to score on a passed ball.

At the plate, six different Broncs had one hit apiece, highlighted by Jack Peterson (Pittstown, NJ/North Hunterdon) hitting a double. Four different Rider players reached base safely two times in the opener. On the mound in game one, Pete Soporowski (Sayreville, NJ/Sayreville War Memorial) was the tough-luck loser. He went five and a third innings and allowed three runs (just one was earned), while striking out seven Spiders.

In game two, Rider once again opened the scoring in the first inning. With two outs, Peterson hit a double down the third-base line to plate McAllister. Richmond would answer with a run in the bottom and two more in the second. The Spiders boke the contest open with a five-run outburst in the fourth.

Vincent Vitacco (Staten Island, NY/Monsignor Farrell) was saddled with the loss in game two after allowing seven earned runs in three and a third innings.

NOTES & QUOTES
"We didn't do much offensively today and we can't win with two runs scored in two games. If that's what you do, you're not going to beat a team like Richmond. They are too good and too experienced." – Rider Head Coach Barry Davis

"Pete was solid on the mound in game one. He gave us a chance. We allowed two unearned runs in game and the bullpen was ineffective which proved to be the difference." – Davis

"In game two, we surrendered 10 walks, had one key two-out error and an overall inability to make key pitches in key spots. Again, we can't win scoring just two runs. We had too many strikeouts at the plate in game two as well." – Davis

- Rider has lost two straight games.
- The Broncs have scored one run or fewer in each of their last three losses.
- Rider had six hits in both game one and game two.

BRONCS BY THE NUMBERS
- Soporowski has gone at least five innings in each of his last two starts. He has struck out five or more batters in all three of his starts this season. In 14 and a third innings this spring, he has issued just two walks.
- Out of the bullpen, sophomore catcher Liam Harding struck out the side in the bottom of the eighth of game two.
- Freshman hurler Colin Eiser pitched two and two-thirds scoreless innings out of the bullpen with five strikeouts in game two.

UP NEXT
Rider closes out a three-game weekend series with Richmond on Sunday, March 3. First pitch is slated for noon with Joe Papeo getting the start on the bump for the Broncs.