NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, NY – The Rider University baseball team suffered a pair of losses in a double header at Niagara on Saturday, falling 2-1 in game one and 11-3 in game two. The losses drop the Broncs to 18-16 on the season and 6-3 in MAAC play. The Purple Eagles improve to 5-25 on the year and 2-7 in league play.
 
The Purple Eagles opened the game one scoring, plating a run in second on a ground-rule double that was just beyond the outstretched glove of John Volpe (Sea Girt, NJ/Wall).
 
Niagara starter Marcus Cashman cruised through the first five innings, allowing just two hits and keeping the Broncs off the board before giving the game over to the bullpen.
 
Rider seized the opportunity in the seventh. Brendan O'Donnell (Malvern, PA/Great Valley) legged out a one-out infield single. Two-batters later, Jordan Erbe (Toms River, NJ/Toms River South[UMass]) tucked a two-out base hit down the left field line. Jack Winsett (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern Regional)
got the Broncs on the board, singling to left to score O'Donnell and tie the game. Volpe followed with a single to right, but Erbe was gunned down by a perfect throw at the plate to end the rally.
 
In the bottom of the ninth, Niagara put runners on first and third with one out. The Broncs intentionally walked the bases loaded, then Dylan Heine (Haddonfield, NJ/Haddonfield) got a strike out for the second out. Eli Selby followed by hitting a grounder that Luke Lesch (Gloucester Township, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) made a diving stop on, but could not get the runner at second and the Purple Eagles earned the 2-1 victory.
 
Both pitchers started strong in game two with neither side finding a run through the first four innings. Leading off the top of the fifth, O'Donnell came through again, smashing a home run over the left field fence.
 
Volpe led off the sixth with an infield single. Socrates Bardatsos (Ridgefield, NJ/St. Joseph's Regional) followed with a single past the third baseman into left field. Following a sacrifice bunt by Jake Barbiere (Randolph, NJ/Randolph), the Purple Eagles elected to walk Lesch to load the bases for Brian Skettini (Midland Park, NJ/Ridgewood). Skettini was hit by a pitch to drive in the Broncs' second run of the game.
 
The Purple Eagles fought back in the bottom of the sixth. Niagara strung together four-straight hits to score three, and take a 3-2 lead.
 
Bardatsos, Barbiere, and Lesch led off the top of the eighth with back-to-back-to-back singles to load the bases with no outs.
 
The Purple Eagles took full control of the game in the bottom of the eight, pounding out eight runs and removing all doubt of a Rider comeback.
 
Quotes & Notes
"We're on to Manhattan." – Head Coach Dr. Barry Davis
 
- Frank Doelling (Riverside, NJ/Riverside[Rowan College at Burlington County]) pitched well in game one before taking the no decision, going eight innings. He allowed one run on five hits, and struck out six without issuing a walk.
- Heine took the loss in the opener after allowing the walk off in the ninth.
- Vincent Vitacco (Staten Island, NY/Monsignor Farrell) started game two, going 5.1 innings, allowing three runs on eight hits. He struck out three and walked one.
- Cal Stalzer (West Des Moines, IA/Valley[Kirkwood C.C./George Washington]) was the first out of the pen in game two, limiting the damage and not allowing a run to come in after he entered in the sixth, but took the loss after allowing the big eighth inning.
 
Broncs by the Numbers
- Seven Broncs hit safely across the pair of games, led by four hits each from Volpe and O'Donnell.
- Winsett has now hit safely in nine-straight games, reaching safely in both contests.
- O'Donnell is second in the MAAC with his ten home runs this season.
 
Up Next
- The Broncs return home for a three-game set with Manhattan beginning Friday. First pitch will be at 3:00 p.m.