LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – The Rider University baseball team racked up a season-high 17 hits, but it was not enough as the Broncs fell to visiting Niagara, 12-9, in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) action on Sunday afternoon at Sonny Pittaro Field.

The Purple Eagles (6-14, 2-1 MAAC) claimed their second straight victory to take the series with Rider (7-14, 1-2 MAAC).

Niagara jumped on Rider starter Joe Papeo (Matawan, NJ/Old Bridge). The Purple Eagles scored one run in the first and added four runs in the second thanks to hitting a pair of two-run homers to build an early 5-0 lead.

The Purple Eagle would balloon to 8-0 following a three-run homer in the top of the fourth.

Rider never gave up.

Trailing, 9-1, the Broncs scored four runs in sixth inning courtesy of a two-run single from Riley Mihalik (Churchville, PA/Chestnut Hill Academy) and a two-run homer from Jack Peterson (Pittstown, NJ/North Hunterdon).

After the Purple Eagles added a three more runs in the seventh to make it a 12-5 lead, the Broncs once again answered. Rider scored two runs in eighth thanks to a fielder's choice from Richie Tecco (Drexel Hill, PA/Monsignor Bonner) and an RBI single from Zach Gakeler (Jobstown, NJ/North Burlington).

After a scoreless top of the ninth, the Broncs opened the ninth with back-to-back towering home runs from Mihalik and Peterson to cut the deficit to just three at 12-9. With two outs, Rider was able to load the bases and get the tying run on first before the game ended on a line out to center.

NOTES & QUOTES
"This team, unlike every other team I've ever had here, is the most positive, enthusiastic group in the dugout. I think that has a lot to do with it. We stayed in the game and they battled. They believed in themselves and what you saw was a result of their enthusiasm. I think you'll continue to see that moving forward." – Rider Head Coach Barry Davis

- Joe Papeo was saddled with the loss. He went three and a third innings and he surrendered six runs while scattering nine hits and striking out four.
- Rider had a season-high 17 hits. It marked the second time in the series that Rider had 10 or more hits in a game.
- Jack Peterson went 4-for-5 with 2 home runs, three runs scored and four RBIs. The four RBIs were a career-high as were his four hits. He became the second Bronc this season to record a multi-homer game. On the weekend, he had three home runs and six RBIs.
- Mihalik went 3-for-4 with a home run, three RBIs, two runs scored and a walk.
- Kyle Johnson, Richie Tecco and Mike Ionta all had multi-hit games for the Broncs as well.
- Gakeler pitched two scoreless innings. He struck out two batters and did not give up a hit. His at-bat in the eighth inning was the first of his career. He promptly lined an RBI single to centerfield.
- Nick Payesko worked a scoreless inning of relief.

UP NEXT
Rider returns to action on Tuesday, March 26, with a road non-conference clash against regional rival La Salle. First pitch is slated for 3:00 pm from Philadelphia.