LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – The Rider University baseball team rallied to defeat visiting Seton Hall, 11-8, in a rain-shortened, non-conference contest on Tuesday afternoon at Sonny Pittaro Field.

The Broncs (12-19) have now won back-to-back home non-league games against in-state opponents, while the Pirates (13-15) saw their two-game winning streak come to an end.

Rider scored five runs in the bottom of the seventh to erase a two-run deficit before the game was called due to inclement weather.

In the seventh, Jack Peterson (Pittstown, NJ/North Hunterdon) deliver a pinch-hit single that scored two runs to tie the game at eight with two outs. Following Peterson, Richie Tecco (Drexel Hill, PA/Monsignor Bonner), Kyle Johnson (Jackson, NJ/Jackson Memorial) and Mike Ionta (Westfield, NJ/Westfield) all delivered RBI singles.

In relief, freshman Kyle Smith (Stratford, NJ/Sterling) worked a scoreless inning to pick up the victory for the Broncs.

NOTES & QUOTES
"Today was a good win for us. We kept putting good at-bats together throughout our lineup. We got big hits from Tecco and Peterson in the seventh. Danny Kirwin battled today out of the bullpen and Kyle Smith was solid in relief." – Rider Head Coach Barry Davis

- Rider had 13 hits as a team. It was the third time in the last five games that the Broncs produced 11 or more hits in a game.
- All three pitchers on the day for Rider were freshman.
- The Broncs snapped a seven-game losing streak against Seton Hall. It was Rider's first win versus the Pirates since 2010.
- Hitting in the leadoff position, Kyle Johnson went 3-for-5 with three runs scored and an RBI.
- Mike Ionta was 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a run scored. He hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the first.
- Cleanup hitter Riley Mihalik was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a triple. He now ranks 22 in program history with 111 career RBIs. He is also tied for seven in Rider history with 24 home runs.

UP NEXT
Rider returns to action on Wednesday, April 10, with a road non-conference battle against regional rival Wagner that is slated to begin at 6:00 pm in Staten Island. Freshman southpaw Andrew Imperatore will get the start on the mound for the Broncs.