Baseball
Friday, April 1, 2022 at 3:00 PM/ Saturday, April 2, 2022 at 1:30 PM/ Sunday, April 3, 2022 at 12:00 PM
Rider Broncs (13-10) vs. St. John's Red Storm (10-15)
Location: Lawrenceville, NJ (Sonny Pittaro Field)
First Pitch: 3:00 PM/1:30 PM/12:00 PM
Live Stats: GoBroncs.com
Twitter: @RiderUBaseball
 
 
What You Need To Know
 
- The Broncs entered the 2021 MAAC Tournament as the three-seed before going 5-0 in the MAAC Tournament to earn the program's third MAAC Championship.
 
- Rider advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the third time under head coach Dr. Barry Davis, a feat also accomplished in 2008 and 2010. Davis has accumulated 975 career victories between his time at Gloucester County College (Rowan College of South Jersey), Georgia Southwestern University, and Rider.
 
- On Friday prior to the first pitch of the series, AJ, Rider's mascot, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch. The wildest, most rambunctious fan, will receive a t-shirt from AJ between the first and second inning as judged by AJ himself.
 
- Saturday is national PB&J day. Rider athletics marketing will slingshot PB&J sandwiches into the crowd between innings.
 
- Rider was picked to finish fifth in the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll.
 
- Rider returns six offensive starters from a season ago. Among the returners are Jake Barbiere (Randolph, NJ/Randolph), who led the team with a .314 average a season ago, MAAC All-Rookie Catcher Brian Skettini (Midland Park, NJ/Ridgewood), and MAAC Tournament MVP Jordan Erbe (Toms River, NJ/Toms River South).
 
- The Broncs and Red Storm are meeting for the first time since 2015, a three-game series that saw St. John's take the opening two games of the series before Rider rebounded for a 7-2 Bronc victory in the getaway game. In that game, then freshman and current Seattle Mariner, Nick Margevicius, earned his first collegiate victory on the mound.
 
- Friday's probable starters are Joe Papeo (Matawan, NJ/Old Bridge) for the Broncs and Joe Joe Rodriguez for the Red Storm. Papeo is 2-2 with a 6.75 ERA this season, but is coming off his best outing of the year at Iona. Papeo tossed 8+ innings, allowing just a single run, while striking out six and walking none. Rodriguez is 1-1 this year with a 5.54 ERA. He earned the win last time out against Quinnipiac after throwing seven innings and allowing just three unearned runs.
 
- Saturday's game is projected to feature Frank Doelling (Riverside, NJ/Riverside) and Brandon Backman. Doelling is 2-3 with a 6.59 ERA, but has rounded into form, going 2-0 with a 4.09 ERA over his past two starts. Backman is 0-0 with a 2.45 ERA this season. Returning from a season-long injury a year ago, Backman has not gone longer than four innings yet this season.
 
- Sunday's series finale matchup is Vincent Vitacco (Staten Island, NY/Mosignor Farrell) and Sonny Fauci. Vitacco has been one of the Broncs best arms this season, currently sporting a 1-2 record with a 3.74 ERA. After starting the season in the pen, Vitacco has now started three games, including a six-inning, one-run outing last time out at Iona. In his non-Virginia appearances, Vitacco has thrown 18.0 innings with a 1.50 ERA. Fauci is 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA in five innings of work this season.
 
- The Broncs have taken full advantage of the long ball this season, hitting 21 home runs. The 21 home runs are more than the Broncs' output from the last two seasons combined. Brendan O'Donnell (Malvern, PA/Great Valley) has seven home runs this season, most in the MAAC, including homers in four straight games during the spring trip to help earn MAAC Player of the Week honors on March 22.
 
- John Volpe (Sea Girt, NJ/Wall) leads the Broncs with a .293 batting average, and enters Tuesday's game on a five-game hitting streak. Luke Lesch (Gloucester Township, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) has hit safely in 11-straight games, most for the Broncs since Sebastian Williamson recorded a hit in 13-striaght in 2019.
 
- Six has been the magic number this season for the Broncs. Rider is 11-0 when scoring six or more runs and is 2-10 when held to five or fewer.
 
- Rider's bullpen has made sure to hold leads. The Broncs are 11-0 this season when leading after six innings. Cal Stalzer (West Des Moines, IA/Valley[George Washington/Kirkwood C.C.]) leads the MAAC, and ranks 20^th nationally, with five saves this season, including saves in each of his last four appearances.
 
- The Red Storm are 10-15, but have gone 8-1 in their last nine games, including taking two of three last weekend against fellow MAAC opponent, Quinnipiac. The Red Storm have played well defensively behind their pitchers, turning 20 double plays this season, raking among the national leaders.