LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – A late rally propelled the Rider University baseball team past visiting Manhattan, 5-3, on Saturday afternoon in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) action at Sonny Pittaro Field.

The Broncs (14-32, 5-13 MAAC) scored one run in the sixth and two runs in the seventh to put an end to their 13-game losing streak, while the Jaspers (20-28, 12-6 MAAC) saw their three-game winning streak come to an end.

Trailing, 3-2, in the bottom of the sixth, Rider knotted the game courtesy of an infield RBI single from junior Zach Fick (South Elgin, IL/St. Charles North).

An inning later, the Broncs took advantage of a Manhattan fielding miscue to take the lead for good. Junior Sebastian Williamson (Oley, PA/Oley Valley) capped the scoring the in the game with a sacrifice fly to left that brought graduate student Mike Ionta (Westfield, NJ/Westfield) charging home.

On the bump, senior Zach Gakeler (Jobstown, NJ/North Burlington) worked the final three innings of the game to pick up his third win of the season. Gakeler scattered three hits and struck out two runners over three scoreless frames.

NOTES
- Joe Papeo got the start for the Broncs. He worked six innings and surrendered three (only one of which was earned). Papeo struck out four Jaspers and scattered five hits. It was his first quality start of the season.
- Joe Simone and Mike Ionta both scored two runs apiece for the Broncs.
- Sebastian Williamson went 1-for-3 with three RBIs. It marked his second game this year with three or more RBIs. He now has 22 RBIs on the year and he is batting a team-high .318.
- Richie Tecco went 2-for-4 in the game. It was his 10th multi-hit game of the year.

UP NEXT
Rider returns to action next weekend, May 11-12, with a three-game conference series against Marist on campus. The Broncs and Red Foxes will open things up with a doubleheader on Saturday that is going to get underway at noon.