NEW ROCHELLE, NY – The Rider University baseball team split a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) doubleheader with Iona on Saturday afternoon at City Park. The Broncs took the opener, 8-0, and the Gaels rallied to score a 4-2 victory in the night cap.

Rider (13-21, 4-7 MAAC) is looking to win its second conference series in a row, while Iona (7-26, 2-6 MAAC) snapped an eight-game losing streak with the win in game two.

In the opener, Bronc sophomore Vincent Vitacco (Staten Island, NY/Monsignor Farrell) tossed eight scoreless innings to pick up his second victory of the year. Vitacco scattered five hits and struck out six batters in the longest start of his career.

At the plate in game one, Sebastian Williamson (Oley, PA/Oley Valley) and Riley Mihalik (Churchville, PA/Chestnut Hill Academy) paced the Bronc attack in the middle of the lineup. The duo combined to go 5-of-10 with three RBIs and four runs scored.

In game two, the Broncs jumped out to an early 2-0 with single runs in the first and second frames. The Gaels cut into the deficit with one run in the fourth and Iona rallied to take the lead for good with a three-run outburst in the fifth.

NOTES & QUOTES
"In game one, Vitacco was excellent once he settled down. He gave us eight shutout innings. Out of the bullpen, Smith got the final three outs. We were able to keep the pressure on them throughout the first game. It was a nice win." – Rider Head Coach Barry Davis

"In game two, we didn't hit, we walked too many guys and our pitchers hit too many batters. We didn't make any plays defensively. We were lucky to have stayed in the game. It was a disappointing finish. We will come out tomorrow and try to get the series tomorrow." – Davis

- With their five-run outburst in the top of the ninth in game one, the Broncs have now outscored opponents, 20-4, in the ninth inning this season.
- Rider had 11 hits in the opener. It was their 15th game this season with 10 or more hits.
- With the victory in game one, the Broncs surpassed their win total from last season.
- Sebastian Williamson went 3-for-5 with a double, an RBI and three runs scored in game one.
- Riley Mihalik went 2-for-5 with two RBIs in the opener. He has a team-high 29 RBIs this season and 113 in his career.
- Mike Ionta also had two hits in game one for the Broncs.

UP NEXT
Rider and Iona close out a three-game MAAC weekend series on Sunday, April 14. The Broncs have not decided on a start for the rubber game in the three-game weekend set.