LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – The Rider University baseball team closed out the series with Fairfield Sunday in convincing fashion, defeating the Stags 14-7 to claim the rubber game in the three-game set. The Broncs improve to 17-13 with the win, including a 5-1 mark in MAAC contests. The Stags drop to 15-14 overall, and are now 6-3 in league play.
 
The Broncs kicked off the scoring in the second. Jake Barbiere (Randolph, NJ/Randolph) drew a one-out walk. Brian Skettini (Midland Park, NJ/Ridgewood) followed with a single that put runners on the corners. Brendan O'Donnell (Malvern, PA/Great Valley) drove in the run with a single to left.
 
Fairfield loaded the bases with no outs in the third. The Broncs traded a run for two outs on a double play ball, then induced another ground out to limit the damage to a single run that tied the game.
 
Rider responded in the bottom half, starting with a two-out single by Socrates Bardatsos (Ridgefield, NJ/St. Joseph's Regional). After Luke Lesch (Gloucester Township, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) reached on a wild pitch following strike three and Barbiere was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Skettini delivered again with a two-run single to left.
 
In the fourth, the Stags took advantage of a Rider error to plate four unearned runs, taking a 5-3 lead.
 
The Broncs and Stags traded single runs in the bottom of the fourth and top of the fifth. In the bottom of the fifth, Barbiere drew a one-out walk. Two batters later, O'Donnell hit a pitch that deflected off the outstretched glove of the third baseman and deflected into left field for a single that placed runners on the corners. Alex Diamantis (Staten Island, NY/St. Peter's Boys) then delivered a perfectly placed bunt single to score Barbiere from third, trimming the deficit to 6-5.
 
The game turned in the bottom of the sixth. John Volpe (Sea Girt, NJ/Wall) reach on a one-out walk, then two batters later, Lesch crushed a change up over the fence in right center, giving the Broncs a 7-6 lead. Barrbiere continued the inning by getting hit by a pitch and Skettini put runners on the corners with a single down the left field line. O'Donnell drove in one with a double to left center, then Diamantis drove in another with a single. After Diamantis stole second, Jordan Erbe (Toms River, NJ/Toms River South[UMass]) plated another run with a swinging bunt that died in front of the plate. Winsett followed with a single that made the score 11-6, but a perfect throw from center field nabbed Erbe trying to go first to third, ending the inning.
 
The Rider bats remained hot in the seventh, as Volpe led off the inning with a double, after Bardatsos drew a walk, Lesch connected for his second home run of the game and the game was never again in doubt.
 
Quotes & Notes
"It's a three game series and you have to play each game separately. It was a good day today."
 
"We have a stretch with Bardatsos, Lesch, Skettini, O'Donnell. Guys who can hit the ball into gaps. We let those big guys go up and hack at it."
 
"Outs matter, you get them when you can, and try to be efficient with it."
 
"It's a good start, we got 18 more though, and anything can happen in those 18 games." – Head Coach Dr. Barry Davis
 
"The first couple at bats, I was really struggling. I just took a step back off the plate trusted my hands, and let my hands go."
 
"I felt good after that first at bat and coach Lipinski told me to look for a fastball and I turned on it." – Junior first baseman Luke Lesch
 
- Vincent Vitacco (Staten Island, NY/Monsignor Farrell) got the start for the Broncs, going five innings and allowing just two earned runs. He struck out a pair in the outing.
- Kyle Smith (Stratford, NJ/Sterling) came in for the next 1.2 innings, allowing just one hit and striking out four to earn the victory and improve to 2-0 on the season.
- Danny Kirwin (Lansdale, PA/North Penn) threw 1.1 innings, allowing one run on one hit. He struck out one.
- Frank DelGuercio (Millstone, NJ/The Hun School) closed out the game with a perfect final frame.
- Rider improves to 14-0 this season when scoring six or more runs. The Broncs scored in double digits for the eighth time this season.
 
Broncs by the Numbers
- Eight Broncs recorded hits in the contest, led by three each from Skettini and O'Donnell. All nine places in the order reached base safely at least once, with eight spots in the order reaching twice.
- Volpe extends his hitting streak to 12 games, the most by any Bronc this season.
- Lesch now has six home runs on the season.
- Rider pitchers combined for 10 strikeouts in the game.
 
Up Next
- The Broncs remain home for a midweek game against NJIT on Tuesday, beginning at 3:30 p.m.