LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – The Rider University baseball team dropped both ends of a doubleheader against Siena on Saturday afternoon in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) action at Sonny Pittaro Field. The Saints took game one, 13-4, and the Broncs dropped the nightcap, 9-8.

Rider (8-17, 1-5 MAAC) has now dropped five conference games in a row, while Siena, (7-16, 3-3 MAAC) earned the series sweep with the two wins on Saturday.

In game one, the Saints never trailed en route to the win. Siena scored the first nine runs of the game over the first five innings. Junior left-hander Pete Soporowski (Sayreville, NJ/Sayreville War Memorial) got the start and took the loss for the Broncs. The lone bright spot offensively in the opener for Rider was junior centerfielder Sebastian Williamson (Oley, PA/Oley Valley). Williamson went 3-for-4 with a solo homer and two runs scored. He accounted for three of Rider's eight hits in the game.

In game two, a pitcher's duel turned into a shootout late in the game when relievers entered the game.

Rider was clinging to a 3-2 lead before Siena erupted for six runs in the eighth inning off Rider closer Zach Gakeler (Jobstown, NJ/North Burlington). The Saints would add an insurance run that proved to be vital in the top of the ninth to take a 9-3 edge.

In the bottom of the ninth, Rider put scored five runs. The Broncs had the tying run in scoring position before the Siena closer induced a game-ending line out.

NOTES & QUOTES
"Obviously, I'm disappointed with the results today. The inability to prevent the big inning was our downfall all weekend as they scored 20 runs in a four-inning span. We need to play an entire game from the first pitch to the last. When we start to do that we will see better results. We can be a much team offensively then we've shown." – Rider Head Coach Barry Davis 

- Rider committed six errors on the day.
- The Broncs had 12 hits in game two. It was their 11th game this year with 10 or more hits.
- Frank DelGuercio pitched a scoreless third of an inning in game one.
- Vincent Vitacco got the start in game two and he registered his second consecutive quality start. He tossed six innings and gave up two runs. He scattered four hits and struck out two batters.
- In his appearance of the season, Jordan Silverman worked a scoreless inning in game two. He struck out two hitters.
- In game two, Jack Peterson went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored.
- Zach Fick had two hits in game two.
- Joe Simone went 3-for-4 with two RBIs in game two.

UP NEXT
Rider returns to action on Tuesday, April 2, with a road contest against Delaware as part of the 2019 Liberty Bell Classic. First pitch is slated for 3:00 pm as the winner will advance to play the Liberty Bell Championship game at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.