BASEBALL
April 3, 2019
Rider Broncs (8-18) vs. NJIT Highlanders (9-12-1)
Location: Lawrenceville, NJ (Sonny Pittaro Field)
First Pitch: 3:30 PM
Live Stats: SidearmStats
Twitter: @RiderUBaseball

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
- Rider returns home for a midweek non-conference clash against in-state rival NJIT on Wednesday, April 3. The Broncs and Highlanders are playing for the second time in the last three years. Last season's game between the two squads was cancelled due to inclement weather. The Broncs have won the last two meetings in the series history. Rider leads the all-time series, 9-5.

- Last time out, Rider fell to Delaware, 6-1, on Tuesday afternoon on the road at Bob Hannah Stadium as part of the Liberty Bell Classic. Delaware jumped on Rider starter Colin Eiser early, plating four runs in the bottom of the second. The Blue Hens would then add a pair runs in the fifth to chase Eiser from the game. When Eiser surrendered the four runs in the bottom of the second, he saw his streak of 17 scoreless innings come to an end. He tossed five innings for the second start in a row.

- Yesterday, the Broncs were unable to get on the board until the top of the ninth. In their final at-bat, Jack Peterson (Pittstown, NJ/North Hunterdon) and Joe Simone (Wayne, NJ/Wayne Hills) started the frame with back-to-back doubles. Simone's two-bagger brought Peterson home to cap the scoring in the game.

- Getting the start on Wednesday for Rider will be freshman Andrew Imperatore. He will be making his first collegiate start and his seventh appearance for the Broncs this year. He has worked five and a third innings this season and struck out four batters. Most recently, he worked two-thirds of an inning out of the bullpen last weekend against Siena. He scattered a hit and did not allow a run.

- Offensively, a pair of everyday starters are hitting above .300 for Rider. Riley Mihalik is batting a team-high .313 with 30 hits, six home runs, 19 RBIs a .542 slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .389. Catcher Mike Ionta is hitting .301 this year with a .409 OBP.

- In his first season with the team, Jack Peterson is batting .280 with a team-high 10 doubles to go along two triples, three homers and 18 RBIs. Earlier this season, junior Kyle Johnson recorded his 100th career hit. He has nine doubles this year and scored 11 runs. Classmate Joe Simone has 91 career hits. He has recorded back-to-back multi-hit games.