LEXINGTON, VA – The Rider University baseball team won a wild game Sunday afternoon, 12-11, completing the three-game sweep of VMI. The Broncs even their record at 9-9 on the season, while the Keydets drop to 8-11.
 
Jake Barbiere (Randolph, NJ/Randolph) led off the game with a home run over the left field fence, giving the Broncs an early advantage. Jack Winsett (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern Regional) reached on an error and came around to score on an RBI single by Socrates Bardatsos (Ridgefield, NJ/St. Joseph's Regional).
 
The Keydets quickly took the lead with a three-run bottom of the first, combining for four hits in the inning.
 
In the second, Barbiere hit a two-out single. After a pair of walks loaded the bases, Bardatsos delivered again, driving in a run with an infield hit to tie the game, 3-3.
 
VMI used the long ball to re-take the lead in the bottom half of the inning. A two-out, two-run homer gave the Keydets back the lead.
 
Brian Skettini (Midland Park, NJ/Ridgewood) and Alex Diamantis (Staten Island, NY/St. Peter's Boys) hit back-to-back one-out singles in the third to put runners on first and second for Jordan Erbe (Toms River, NJ/Toms River South[UMass]). Erbe delivered an RBI knock that cut the lead to just one.
 
John Volpe (Sea Girt, NJ/Wall) led off the fourth with a walk. Bardatsos drove in his third run of the day with a double. With the bases empty and two away, Luke Lesch (Gloucester Township, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) cleared the fence to put the Broncs back in front 6-5.
 
In the fifth, Erbe was hit by a pitch with one out. Barbiere drove him in with a double, then came in to score on a ground out, putting Rider in front, 8-5.
 
After the Keydets got two back in the bottom of the fifth, Bardatsos drew a leadoff walk in the sixth. Brendan O'Donnell (Malvern, PA/Great Valley) followed by getting hit with a pitch. Two Batters later, Skettini brought everybody home with a three-run home run to extend the Rider lead to 11-7.
 
VMI stormed back into the game in the seventh with a three-run inning and had the bases loaded, before a line drive to Volpe, who moved to short stop. Volpe then doubled the runner off second to get out of the jam.
 
In the eighth, the Broncs got a much needed insurance run when O'Donnell hit a solo home run.
 
The Keydets got runners on first and third with one out. After a sacrifice fly, made it a 12-11 game. Brett Cook then hit a ball off the wall in left center, where Diamantis played the ball perfectly, firing to Volpe, who made the relay to Skettini to record the final out at the plate.
 
Quotes & Notes
"Overall, we pitched poorly today, but obviously we hit the ball well and we were able to push enough across." – Head Coach Dr. Barry Davis
 
- Kenny Quijano (Teaneck, NJ/St. Mary's) came out of the pen and threw 2.2 innings, allowing a pair of runs on three hits, striking out one to earn the victory.
- Brian Young (Neptune, NJ/Communication) followed with 1.2 innings, scattering three hits and allowing just one run, thanks in large part to three strike outs.
- Cal Stalzer (West Des Moines, IA/Valley[George Washington/Kirkwood C.C.]) tossed the game's final two innings, earning his second save of the series and third of the season.
- O'Donnell has now homered in four-straight games, the longest streak during the Barry Davis era.
 
Broncs by the Numbers
- Seven Broncs recorded hits in the game, led by three each from Barbiere, Bardatsos, and Skettini.
- Lesch extended his hitting streak to six-straight games. Barbiere and O'Donnell each have hits in five-straight.
- All nine spots in the Broncs lineup reached base at least once during the game.
- O'Donnell's home run is his seventh of the season.
- Barbiere, Lesch, and Skettini each hit their second of the year.
 
Up Next
- The Broncs come home for the first time this season for a game Tuesday against in-state foe Rutgers. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.