FAIRFIELD, CT – For a second-straight game in the MAAC Tournament, the Rider University baseball team came from behind to earn a victory Thursday afternoon. Trailing 2-0 in the eighth, and 3-2 in the ninth, the Broncs got two-run singles to first tie the game, then walk-off with the 4-3 victory.
 
Canisius (20-15) opened the scoring in the top of the second with a two-run double down the right field line off the bat of Jacob Martins. The Golden Griffins appeared to be set to add another run in the top of the seventh on a base hit to right field with runners on first and second, but Lou Priolo's (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern) throw to the plate was right on the money to get the runner and end the inning.
 
The Broncs (22-16) finally broke through in the bottom of the eighth. Brian Skettini (Midland Park, NJ/Ridgewood) opened the inning with a walk, followed by a single from David Bermudez (East Brunswick, NJ/East Brunswick). Two batters later, Scott Shaw (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) hit a pinch-hit single to load the bases. Jordan Erbe (Toms River, NJ/Toms River South) tied the game with a base hit back up the middle.
 
Canisius answered in the top of the ninth, loading the bases for a Jacob Victor sacrifice fly to briefly give Canisius back control of the game.
 
Down to their final two outs with runners on first and second, the Broncs called on John Volpe (Sea Girt, NJ/Wall) to come off the bench as a pinch-hitter. After a wild pitch advanced both runners 90 feet, Volpe dumped a 1-2 pitch into right field, scoring Sean McGeehan (Hamilton, N.J./Nottingham) and Alex Diamantis (Staten Island, NY/Saint Peter's Boys) and advancing the Broncs through the winner's bracket.
 
 
Quotes & Notes
"Tremendous effort from our guys today. Doelling battled, giving us a chance, as well as Smith, Kirwin, and Papeo from the bullpen."
 
"It was a grind-it-out game."
 
"We just kept at it and it's a tribute to our guys, believing in themselves."
 
"Offensively, a lot of missed opportunities. We left 12 men on base, but we got a big hit by Erbe to tie it and obviously Volpe's hit to win it." – Rider Head Coach Barry Davis
 
"He was aggressive, he looked the other way with two strikes and flipped it out there and we got a big win." – Rider Head Coach Barry Davis on John Volpe's walk-off hit
 
"When [coach] called on me, my name was always ready. I was ready for the big moment."
 
"We're tough kids. We always go out there, we always battle, we always work hard, and we're a team."  – Rider Infielder John Volpe
 
- Frank Doelling (Riverside, NJ/Riverside) struck out eight in six innings of work and allowed just two hits and two runs to earn a no decision.
- Kyle Smith (Stratford, NJ/Sterling) and Danny Kirwin (Lansdale, PA/North Penn) combined for two innings out of the pen without allowing a run.
- Joe Papeo (Matawan, NJ/Old Bridge) pitched the ninth inning to earn the win, his third of the season.
- The Broncs advance to through the winner's bracket and will face the winner of the elimination game between Canisius and top-seeded Fairfield tomorrow at 1:00 PM. The Golden Griffins and the Stags are scheduled to play at 9:30 AM.
- Rider needs to win just one out of two games to win the MAAC Tournament and earn the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
- The Broncs are seeking their third-ever MAAC Championship and first since 2010.
 
Broncs by the Numbers
- The Broncs out-hit the Golden Griffins 10-8.
- Rider started 0-for-14 with runners in scoring position, before going 3-for-6 in the same situation to close out the game.
- The Broncs had the lead-off batter reach base in eight of nine innings.
- Erbe, Kyle Johnson (Jackson, NJ/Jackson Memorial), and Luke Lesch (Gloucester Township, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) paced Rider with two hits each.
- Erbe, Bermudez, and Lesch all extended their season-best hitting streaks to five games.
- Johnson's fifth-inning double was the Broncs' lone extra-base hit in the game
- Rider made no errors in the field and turned a pair of double plays to keep the Golden Griffins offense in check.