LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – The Rider University baseball team split a doubleheader with visiting Niagara in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) action on Saturday afternoon at Sonny Pittaro Field. The Broncs took the opener, 13-5, and the Purple Eagles scored a 1-0 triumph in game two.

Rider (7-13, 1-1 MAAC) got strong performances from both their starters and Niagara (5-14, 1-1 MAAC) saw their starter toss a complete-game shutout in game two.

In game one, Rider erupted for seven runs in the bottom of the eighth to pull away and earn the victory. Clinging to a one-run lead at 6-5, the Broncs saw the first three batters in the frame reached base on singles and 11 total batters come to the plate in the stanza. After a fly out, senior Brennan McAllister (Middletown, DE/Middletown) hit an RBI single and pinch runner Lou Priolo (Vorhees, NJ/Eastern) would then score thanks to stealing home.

Kyle Johnson (Jackson, NJ/Jackson Memorial) stretched the Rider advantage to 9-5 in the frame with a sacrifice fly to center and Mike Ionta (Westfield, NJ/Westfield) followed with a two-run double down the right-field line. Rider would cap the scoring with two runs following a dropped fly ball in left center by the Purple Eagles.

On the mound in the opener, Pete Soporowski (Sayreville, NJ/Sayreville War Memorial) was stellar for the hosts. Soporowski struck out a career-high 15 batters without issuing a walk in seven and two-thirds innings. He surrendered three earned runs and scattered six hits to pick up his second win of the season.

Senior Zach Gakeler (Jobstown, NJ/North Burlington) worked the final inning and a third to pick up his team-leading fourth save of the spring. Ionta led the charge offensively in the opener going 3-for-5 with 4 RBIs for the Broncs.

In game two, sophomore starter Vincent Vitacco (Staten Island, NY/Monsignor Farrell) was dropped a pitcher's duel. Both Vitacco and Niagara starter Matthew Brash tossed complete games in the nightcap.

The only run came in third inning as the Purple Eagles took advantage of a leadoff double.

The Broncs were able to put runners in scoring position in each of their final three at-bats, but Rider was unable to push a run across.

In the home half of the sixth, senior Riley Mihalik (Churchville, PA/Chestnut Hill Academy) reached second on a dropped fly ball. After a strikeout, Joe Simone (Wayne, NJ/Wayne Hills) had a lengthy at-bat that ended with a line drive into the right center. Niagara right fielder made a diving catch and Mihalik tagged from second to come all the way around to score. The Purple Eagles appealed that Mihalik left early and he called out, negating the Rider run.

NOTES & QUOTES
"You can't ask for anything better than what we got today from our starters. Petey had 15 strikeouts. He got a little tired at the end there, but he picked up where he left off in California. Pete threw the ball well. That's the best that Vin has looked all year. He kept the ball down and got the lead off got out in almost every inning. We keep getting those performances from our pitchers and we'll be in good shape." – Rider Head Coach Barry Davis

- Rider had 13 hits in the opener.
- The teams combined to commit five errors in game one.
- The 13 runs in the opener were a season-high for Rider.
- Pete Soporowski has struck out 26 batters without giving up a walk over his last two starts. On the year, he has 52 strikeouts and just three walks in 35 innings. Saturday also marked his third straight quality start.
- Gakeler struck out four batters in the opener. In the game, Rider had 19 strikeouts without issuing a walk.
- Five Broncs had multi-hit games in the opener.
- On the day, Mike Ionta went 4-for-6.
- Kyle Johnson had two of Rider's six hits in game two.

UP NEXT
Rider and Niagara close out a three-game weekend set on Sunday, March 24, with a single, nine-inning contest that is slated to begin at noon. Sophomore southpaw Joe Papeo will get the start on the bump for the Broncs.