WINSTON-SALEM, NC – The Rider University baseball team began its defense of the MAAC Championship in style, defeating Georgetown, 6-4, and VCU, 7-6, on the opening day of the season Friday.
 
Trailing 1-0 in the third against Georgetown, the Broncs loaded the bases on singles by Jordan Erbe (Toms River, NJ/Toms River South), Jack Winsett (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern Regional), and John Volpe (Sea Girt, NJ/Wall). Jake Barbiere (Randolph, NJ/Randolph) cleared the bases with a double off the wall in left, but was thrown out trying to reach third. The very next batter, Socrates Bardatsos (Ridgefield, NJ/St. Joseph's Regional), extended the lead with a solo shot to right field.
 
The Hoyas tied the game in the seventh on a bases-loaded walk and two-run single. Still tied in the top of the ninth, Scott Shaw (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) blasted a two-out, two-run home run to right that would prove to be the difference.
 
In the second game of the day against VCU, the Broncs fell behind early, allowing an unearned run in the first. In the third, the Rams scored again before third baseman Tyler Locklear hit a three-run homer that put VCU up 5-0.
 
The Broncs would slowly chip away at the lead, scoring two in the fourth, then two more in the fifth on a home run by Luke Lesch (Gloucester Township, NJ/Gloucester Catholic). Lesch would add an RBI ground out that would tie the score in the seventh.
 
In the top of the eighth, Shaw led off the inning with a bunt single. After a sacrifice moved Shaw to second, he scored on a VCU throwing error to give the Broncs the lead. Rider scored again on a wild pitch, and though the Broncs allowed a run in the ninth, they held on for a one-run victory.
 
Quotes & Notes
"We played all nine in both games, meaning we competed all day."
 
"Scotty played well. A clutch two-out homer. You need guys to step up in those situations and Scott did." – Rider Head Coach Dr. Barry Davis
 
- Frank Doelling (Riverside, NJ/Riverside) started game one, going 4.1 innings, allowing one run on four hits, while striking out six. Frank DelGuercio (Millstone, NJ/The Hun School) tossed two scoreless innings in relief to earn the win. Vincent Vitacco (Staten Island, NY/Monsignor Farrell) hit a batter to start the ninth, but retired the next three in order, including a pair of strikeouts, to earn the save.
- Joe Papeo (Matawan, NJ/Old Bridge) started game two, throwing 4.2 and allowing four earned runs on five hits, striking out seven. Danny Kirwin (Lansdale, PA/North Penn) tossed 2.1 no-hit innings in relief to earn the victory. Cal Stalzer (West Des Moines, IA/Valley) recorded the final six outs, five via the punch out, to record his first save of the season.
- The Broncs are 2-0 for the third-straight season, and have won the season opener in each of the last five seasons.
 
Broncs by the Numbers
- The Broncs scored a total of 13 runs on 13 hits.
- Bardatsos had a pair of extra-base hits on the day.
- Bardatsos, Shaw, Erbe, and Volpe each had two hits on the day to lead the Broncs.
- Nine players recorded a hit on the day, and all eight players to start both games recorded a hit.
- Five players drove in a run for Rider, led by three each from Shaw, Barbiere, and Lesch.
- Nine separate Broncs scored a run in the game, led by three from Bardatos and two each by Shaw and Erbe.
- Rider pitchers combined for 23 strikeouts in the two games.
 
Up Next
- The Broncs have one more game in North Carolina, when the Broncs take on Lafayette Saturday at 2 p.m. The projected pitching matchup is Kenny Quijano (Teaneck, NJ/St. Mary's) against Kyle Subers.