2020 RIDER BASEBALL SEASON PREVIEW
Three-Game Series
February 15-16, 2020
Rider Broncs (0-0) vs. Charleston Southern (0-0)
Weekend Live Stats: CSUSports.com
First Pitch Game One: Saturday at 1:00 PM
First Pitch Game Two: Saturday at 4:00 PM
First Pitch Game Three: Sunday at 1:00 PM
Twitter Updates: @RiderUBaseball
 
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE 2020 BRONCS
- Rider opens the 2020 season this weekend, February 15-16, with a three-game series at Charleston Southern. The Broncs are making their first of two trips to Charleston this year.
 
- Rider is coming off a 17-36 campaign that saw the team post an 8-16 record in MAAC play. One Bronc earned All-MAAC honors as then senior Riley Mihalik landed on the Second Team.
 
- The Broncs were picked to finish eighth in the MAAC Preseason Coaches Poll. Rider is looking to return the MAAC Baseball Championship for the first time since the 2017 season. The 2020 MAAC Baseball Championship will feature the top six teams in the conference standings and it will take place May 20-23 at Richmond County Bank Ballpark in Staten Island, New York.
 
- Rider's probable starters on the mound this weekend are senior Pete Soporowski, sophomore Frank Doelling and freshman Kenny Quijano.
 
- Soporowski was once again a work horse for the Broncs on the bump last season before being sidelined due to an injury. He went 3-2 in eight starts with a career-best 2.64 ERA. In 47 and two-thirds innings of work, Soporowski struck out 62 hitters and issued just five walks. He posted a WHIP of 1.00 last season. Out of his eight starts, he had five in which he allowed one earned run or fewer. He was named the team's Most Valuable Pitcher.
 
- Doelling and Quijano are both in their first season with Rider. Doelling is a transfer from Rowan College at Burlington County and Quijano is a freshman from Teaneck, New Jersey. The pair are part of a strong core of first-year hurlers for the Broncs, including Matt Hartshorn, Jake Andrey, Alec Sachais and Dylan Heine.
 
- Some of the returners on the mound looking to take the next step forward are Vincent Vitacco, Joe Papeo and Liam Harding. Vitacco made 15 appearances on the mound last season, going 2-8 in 75 and a third innings of work, while Papeo tossed 62 innings and struck out 51 hitters as a sophomore. Harding will look to make an impact for Rider out of bullpen. Harding made 12 appearances on the bump a year ago, striking out 19 batters in 19 and a third innings.
- Rider returns its starting outfield from last season in Jack Peterson, Sebastian Williamson and Joe Simone. In his first year with the team, Peterson hit .25 with four homers, 29 RBIs and 39 runs scored. He recorded 10 multi-hit games a year ago. Williamson hit .301 with two homers, 26 RBIs, 28 runs scored and 12 steals last spring, while Simone had 24 RBIs, 32 runs scored and 12 steals.
 
- In the infield, returners Kyle Johnson and Zach Fick will shore things up the middle. Johnson had 48 hits, 28 runs scored and stole seven bases last season. Fick had a .961 fielding percentage at second base and 15 runs. David Bermudez, Jake Barbiere, Luke Lesch, John Volpe and Jack Winsett will add depth as well for the Broncs.
 
- Behind the plate, Tyler Stockwell and Chris Roan will add veteran experience for the Broncs. Stockwell missed last season due to injury, while Roan had an impressive .990 fielding percentage with 13 assists and 86 putouts.