Baseball
Tuesday, April 12, 2022 at 3:30 PM
Rider Broncs (17-13) vs. NJIT Highlanders (13-13)
Location: Lawrenceville, NJ (Sonny Pittaro Field)
First Pitch: 3:30 PM
Watch Live: ESPN3
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 979 career victories between his time at Gloucester County College (Rowan College of South Jersey), Georgia Southwestern University, and Rider.
 
- 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).
 
- Rider and NJIT will meet for the first time since 2019, a 16-10 Rider victory. The Broncs lead the all-time series 11-5, and have taken each of the last four meetings.
 
- Tuesday's probable starters are Kenny Quijano (Teaneck, NJ/St. Mary's) for Rider and Tyler Cirone for NJIT. Quijano enters with a 2-2 record and 5.87 ERA. He has been sharp in his last two outings, firing 6.1 scoreless innings against Lehigh as part of a combined shutout and 5.0 innings against Delaware giving up three runs, while striking out a season-high six batters. Cirone has been one of NJIT's better arms out of the pen this season, sporting a 1.42 ERA, but he will be making his first start of the season Tuesday. In his three outings this year, Cirone has not gone longer than 2.2 innings.
 
- The Broncs have taken full advantage of the long ball this season, hitting 28 home runs. The 28 home runs are more than the Broncs' output from the last two seasons combined and most in a season since Rider hit 33 in 2010. Brendan O'Donnell (Malvern, PA/Great Valley) has eight 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. Against Fairfield this past weekend, Luke Lesch (Gloucester Township, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) hit three home runs, including a pair in Sunday's 14-7 victory.
 
- John Volpe (Sea Girt, NJ/Wall) has hit safely in 12-straight games. He now sports a team-high .300 average on the season. Lesch has been equally hot, hitting safely in 17 of the Bronc's last 18 games.
 
- Six has been the magic number this season for the Broncs. Rider is 14-0 when scoring six or more runs and is 3-13 when held to five or fewer.
 
- Rider's bullpen has made sure to hold leads. The Broncs are 15-0 this season when leading after six innings. Cal Stalzer (West Des Moines, IA/Valley[George Washington/Kirkwood C.C.]) leads the MAAC, and ranks 44^th nationally, with five saves this season.
 
- The Highlanders are 13-13 this season. David Marcano leads the team with a .374 average and 1.002 OPS. The team will put pressure on the defense when they reach base, stealing 35 bags already this season.