NEWARK, DE – The Rider University baseball team took the final game of a three-game set against Delaware, winning 14-6 Sunday afternoon. The Broncs improve to 6-4 with the win, while the Blue Hens drop to 4-6.
 
The Broncs opened the scoring in the third. Jordan Erbe (Toms River, NJ/Toms River South[UMass]) opened the inning getting hit by a pitch. Two batters later, Scott Shaw (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) advanced Erbe to third with a single, and Erbe would score on an RBI ground out by John Volpe (Sea Girt, NJ/Wall). That lead would be short lived as the Blue Hens led off the bottom half of the inning with a first-pitch home run to tie the game.
 
Rider would break open the game in the fourth. Brendan O'Donnell (Malvern, PA/Great Valley) got the inning going with a one-out double. After Jack Winsett (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern Regional) reached on an error, Alex Diamantis (Staten Island, NY/Saint Peter's Boys) drove home both runs with a triple. He came in to score on a sacrifice bunt by Erbe. Jake Barbiere (Randolph, NJ/Randolph) followed with a solo shot. Shaw continued the rally with a single, stole second, and came around to score on a Volpe single.
 
Once again Delaware used the big fly to respond. The Blue Hens scored four in the bottom of the fourth, including a three-run homer.
 
In the sixth, Erbe and Barbiere led off the inning with back-to-back singles. A wild pitch advanced the runners with one out for Volpe. The Blue Hens chose to intentionally walk the junior to load the bases for Socrates Bardatsos (Ridgefield, NJ/St. Joseph's Regional). Bardatsos delivered a two-run single. Brian Skettini (Midland Park, NJ/Ridgewood) reloaded the bases by getting hit with a pitch. O'Donnell kept everyone moving around the bases with an RBI single, extending the lead to 9-5. Winsett followed with a bases-loaded walk. Diamantis, the next batter, made it 12-5 with a two-run double.
 
Shaw opened the seventh with a double, then Volpe was hit by a pitch. Bardatsos loaded the bases with an infield single. The Broncs went on to plate a pair of runs in the inning.

A solo homer by Delaware in the ninth provided the final score.
 
Quotes & Notes
"It always feels good to get a win."

"We did a good job today putting the ball in play and putting pressure on their defense. Had good quality at bats and even layed down a successful squeeze."

"We had to switch something up. Skettini played a good first base. Volpe's been swinging a hot bat at we wanted to try to get guys on in front of him. Barbiere stepped up moving to the leadoff spot." - Head Coach Dr. Barry Davis

- Alec Sachais (Egg Harbor Township, NJ/Holy Spirit) made the start for the Broncs, throwing three innings and striking out a pair.
- Danny Kirwin (Lansdale, PA/North Penn) tossed 1.2 no-hit innings, striking out a pair in relief to earn the victory.
- Frank DelGuercio (Millstone, NJ/The Hun School of Princeton) struck out a pair in his inning out of the pen.
- Cal Stalzer (West Des Moines, IA/Valley[George Washington/Kirkwood C.C]) punched out three over the game's final two innings.
- All nine Rider starters scored a run, a first for the team since a 14-1 victory over Saint Peter's last season.
 
Broncs by the Numbers
- Shaw and Bardatsos led the Broncs with three hits each.
- Barbiere, Volpe, O'Donnell, and Diamantis each had a pair of hits.
- Barbiere's home run is the first of his career.
- Diamantis led Rider with four RBIs.
 
Up Next
- The Broncs begin their spring break trip with a visit to West Virginia for a 3 p.m. game on Wednesday.