BETHLEHEM, PA – The Rider University baseball team won its fourth-straight game Tuesday afternoon, defeating Lehigh 3-0 in the opening round of the Liberty Bell Classic. The Broncs improve to 13-10 on the season, while the Mountain Hawks fall to 13-11.
 
Jake Barbiere (Randolph, NJ/Randolph) led off the game with a single. Jack Winsett (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern Regional) followed by drawing a walk. After a wild pitch advanced the runners to second and third, Socrates Bardatsos (Ridgewood, NJ/St. Joseph's Regional) grounded out to second driving in the game's first run. Luke Lesch (Gloucester Township, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) delivered the first clutch hit of the game, doubling down the left field line to extend the lead to 2-0.
 
A pitcher's duel ensued, as neither side could push across a run until the fifth. John Volpe (Sea Girt, NJ/Wall) drew a one-out walk. Bardatsos then doubled down the line in left. After Lesch was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Brian Skettini (Midland Park, NJ/Ridgewood) ripped a hard ground ball that the Mountain Hawks third baseman made a diving play on. He tried to go around the horn for the inning-ending double play, but there was not enough time and Volpe came in to score.
 
The pitching held up for the remainder of the contest and the Broncs held on for the victory.
 
The Rider win combined with Delaware's 8-7 victory over St. Joseph's means the Broncs will play the Blue Hens next Tuesday with the winner of that game advancing to the final at Citizens Bank Park.
 
Quotes & Notes
"We pitched well. Kenny did a great job pitching into the seventh It was his best outing of the year."
 
"DelGuercio and Stalzer were sharp efficient getting the last eight outs."
 
"Offensively, we put ourselves in position, but we executed poorly, both at the plate and on the bases." – Head Coach Dr. Barry Davis
 
- Kenny Quijano (Teaneck, NJ/St. Mary's) tossed a career-high 6.1 scoreless innings, scattering four hits and striking out three.
- Frank DelGuercio (Millstone, NJ/The Hun School) retired five-straight batters, including a strikeout, in relief. DelGuercio has kept the opposition off the scoreboard in five of his appearances this season.
- Cal Stalzer (West Des Moines, IA/Valley[Kirkwood CC/George Washington]) pitched the ninth for his fifth save of the season. The graduate student has converted a save opportunity in each of his last four appearances.
- Rider pitchers did not allow a Lehigh runner to reach third safely in the game.
- The Broncs had double-digit hits for the tenth time this season.
 
Broncs by the Numbers
- Eight Broncs recorded a hit in the game, led by a pair each from Bardatsos and O'Donnell.
- Lesch extended his hitting streak to 11-straight games, the longest streak for the Broncs since Sebastian Williamson hit in 13-straight in 2019.
- Volpe stole his seventh base of the season.
 
Up Next
- The Broncs return home for a three-game set against St. John's beginning on Friday. First pitch from Sonny Pittaro Field is scheduled for 3 p.m.