LEXINGTON, VA – The Rider University baseball team pounded out 11 runs on 13 hits Saturday afternoon, defeating VMI 11-4 in the second of a three-game series. The Broncs get to 8-9 with the victory, while Keydets fall to 8-10.
 
The Broncs struck early again on Saturday. Brendan O'Donnell (Malvern, PA/Great Valley) led off the second with a double. Luke Lesch (Gloucester Township, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) followed with an RBI single. After a ground ball advanced him to second, Lesch stole third. The first baseman came around to score on a two-out single by Jordan Erbe (Toms River, NJ/Toms River South[UMass]).
 
In the third, Jake Barbiere (Randolph, NJ/Randolph) led off the inning with a single. Jack Winsett (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern Regional) followed with a walk. John Volpe (Sea Girt, NJ/Wall) hit an RBI-single that placed runners on the corners with no outs. Socrates Bardatsos (Ridgefield, NJ/St. Joseph's Regional) drove in Winsett with a sacrifice fly. O'Donnell delivered the big hit of the inning, depositing a two-run home run over the left centerfield fence.
 
VMI countered with runs in the bottom of the third and the fourth.
 
In the fifth, Bardatsos hit a one-out single. After advancing to second on a wild pitch, Lesch drove in Bartdatsos with a single and came around to score on a single by Brian Skettini (Midland Park, NJ/Ridgewood).
 
In the bottom of the fifth, VMI added another.
 
The Broncs got a leadoff single from Erbe in the sixth. Winsett drew a one-out walk, then Volpe was hit by a pitch, followed by an RBI-walk drawn by Bardatsos.
 
The Keydets scratched across a run in the seventh, cutting the Bronc advantage to 9-4.
 
In the ninth, Skettini provided insurance with a solo home run. Alex Diamantis (Staten Island, NY/St. Peter's Boys) closed out the scoring after reaching on an error, and coming in to score on a wild pitch.
 
Quotes & Notes
"We scored early, and it gave the Franks an opportunity to attack the hitters. We did a good job today eliminating the big inning."
 
"Brendan has been putting together consecutive at-bats with high production. He is really playing well right now." – Head Coach Dr. Barry Davis
 
- Frank Doelling (Riverside, NJ/Riverside[Rowan College at Burlington]) tossed six innings, allowing three runs on eight hits to earn the victory. He struck out four in the game.
- Frank DelGuercio (Millstone, NJ/The Hun School) came on in relief, throwing the final three innings, allowing a single run on two hits. He struck out three on his way to earning the save.
- O'Donnell becomes the first Bronc to homer in three straight games since Riley Mihalik '19 opened the 2019 season with home runs in each of the three games of a series against Butler.
 
Broncs by the Numbers
- Eight Broncs recorded hits in the game, led by two each from Barbiere, Bardatsos, O'Donnell, Lesch, and Skettini.
- All nine spots in the Broncs lineup reached base at least once during the game.
- O'Donnell's home run is his sixth of the season.
 
Up Next
- The Broncs conclude the three-game set with VMI on Sunday. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.