WINSTON-SALEM, NC – The Rider University baseball team completed their first road trip of the season undefeated, topping Lafayette 6-4 Saturday afternoon. The Broncs improve to 3-0 on the season, while the Leopards fall to 0-3 on the year.
The Broncs opened the scoring in top of the second.
Brian Skettini (Midland Park, NJ/Ridgewood) and
Jake Barbiere (Randolph, NJ/Randolph) hit singles to put runners on first and second.
Brendan O'Donnell (Malvern, PA/Great Valley) brought everybody home with a three-run shot over the wall in right.
Lafayette responded in the bottom half of the inning, scoring a pair to cut the lead to just one.
Both staffs tightened up until the top of the eighth, when
Scott Shaw (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) connected for his second home run of the season, a solo shot. The Broncs added more insurance runs in the ninth.
Luke Lesch (Gloucester Township, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) hit a one-out single, then Barbiere was hit by a pitch. O'Donnell came through again, hitting a two-run double to left.
The Leopards scored twice in the bottom of the ninth to produce the final score.
Quotes & Notes
"Our bullpen was solid again today, led by 2.2 innings of shutout ball from
Kyle Smith."
"
Brendan O'Donnell had a very productive day at the plate for us, and of course
Scott Shaw came through in the clutch again with another two-out homer."
– Rider Head Coach Dr. Barry Davis
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Kenny Quijano (Teaneck, NJ/St. Mary's) made the start for the Broncs, going 3.1 innings, allowing two runs on three hits and striking out five.
Kyle Smith (Stratford, NJ/Sterling) came out of the pen and tossed 2.2 scoreless innings to earn the victory.
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Brian Young (Neptune, NJ/Communication) made his collegiate debut, going 0.2 innings without allowing a run.
Vincent Vitacco (Staten Island, NY/Monsignor Farrell) threw 1.1 scoreless innings in relief as well.
- The Broncs are 3-0 for the third-straight season.
Broncs by the Numbers
- Six Broncs recorded hits in the game, led by two each from O'Donnell and Skettini.
- Both of O'Donnell's hits were for extra bases.
- O'Donnell drove in a career-high five.
- Five Broncs scored in the game, including Barbiere, who crossed the plate twice.
- Rider pitchers combined for eight strikeouts in the game.
Up Next
- The Broncs are on the road for a three-game series at Miami University (OH) Feb. 25-27.
