FAIRFIELD, CT – For the third time in program history and first time since 2010, the Rider University baseball team is MAAC Champions after defeating top-seeded Fairfield, 7-2, on Friday afternoon.
 
Fairfield (37-3) opened the scoring in the top of the first. MAAC Player of the Year, Mike Caruso, hit an RBI to give the Stags an early 1-0 lead.
 
The Broncs (23-16) responded in the top of the third. After the first two batters of the inning were retired, Kyle Johnson (Jackson, NJ/Jackson Memorial) turned on the first pitch he saw and deposited it over the fence in left center to tie the game.
 
Rider broke the game open in the top of the fourth. Brian Skettini (Midland Park, NJ/Ridgewood) and Lou Priolo (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern) each hit no-doubt two-run home runs, giving the Broncs their first lead of the day.
 
In the fifth, Sean McGeehan (Hamilton, NJ/Nottingham) and Socrates Bardatsos (Ridgefield, NJ/St. Joseph's Regional) continued the Rider home run derby with back-to-back jacks, extending the advantage to 7-2.
 
The Broncs shut down the Fairfield bats down the stretch, allowing just three base runners in the final five frames.
 
 
Quotes & Notes
"Tremendous team effort today."
 
"Joe pitched out of a couple jams, and I think he got some momentum when we scored the four runs and he carried that over."
 
"Cal was locked in for the final 12 outs."
 
"Five home runs is uncharacteristic of us, but sometimes it's needed, and today was the day."
 
"We really peaked at the right time."
 
"It's a special day for Rider." – Rider Head Coach Barry Davis
 
"I just took my regular hack, and it just happened to go out."
 
"I just can't thank the seniors enough. They've been great mentors to us younger players." – Rider Catcher Brian Skettini
 
- Joe Papeo (Matawan, NJ/Old Bridge) started the game on Friday after finishing Thursday's game. Papeo allowed two runs on eight hits in five innings of work to earn the win for the second-straight game. He struck out five Stags in the game.
- Cal Stalzer (West Des Moines, IA/Valley) pitched the final four innings to earn the save for second time in the MAAC Tournament after doing the same in game two of the best-of-three series against Niagara. Stalzer's six saves leads the MAAC this season.
- Jordan Erbe (7-for-13, two runs, three RBIs) was named the MAAC Tournament MVP.
- Stalzer, McGeehan, Skettini, and Jake Barbiere (Randolph, NJ/Randolph) were also named to the All-Tournament team.
- The Broncs win the MAAC Championship for the third time in program history, joining the 2008 and 2010 teams.
- With the MAAC Championship victory, Rider earns the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Broncs will learn their regional location and first opponent when the full bracket is revealed at noon on Monday on ESPN2.
- Rider will make its 12^th appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
- The Broncs advanced to the College World Series in 1967.
 
 
Broncs by the Numbers
- The Broncs and Stags each recorded 10 hits.
- All nine starters for Rider reached base safely at least once in the game, and eight different players recorded a hit.
- Barbiere and David Bermudez (East Brunswick, NJ/East Brunswick) both had multiple hits in the game.
- The Broncs' five home runs are the most by the squad in any game this season. Their previous high this year was two.
- The home run by Priolo was his first as a Bronc.
- Rider hit .317 (33-for-104) over the three games in the Championship Round of the MAAC Tournament.
- The Broncs outscored the opposition 20-10 across the three victories.
- Rider pitchers tossed 27.0 innings, combining for a 2.33 ERA with 21 strikeouts.