LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – The Rider University baseball team split a double header Saturday to close out a three-game set with St. John's with a series victory. The Red Storm took the opening game 9-0, with the Broncs taking game two 13-6. Rider's record now sits at 15-11, and St. Johns is 11-17.
 
In game one, both pitchers started strong, allowing a combined one hit through two innings. In the top of the third, the Red Storm plated four, then added five in the sixth.
 
St. John's pitchers scattered four hits and struck out 12 while not allowing a walk.
 
The Broncs flipped the script in game two.
 
Jack Winsett (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern Regional) drew a one-out walk in the first. John Volpe (Sea Girt, NJ/Wall) followed with a single to center. Socrates Bardatsos (Ridgefield, NJ/St. Joseph's Regional) gave the Broncs the lead with a two-run double. After Brian Skettini (Midland Park, NJ/Ridgewood) was hit by a pitch, Luke Lesch (Gloucester Township, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) singled home a run and Brendan O'Donnell (Malvern, PA/Great Valley) drove one in with a sacrifice fly.
 
Jake Barbiere (Randolph, NJ/Randolph) drew the one-out walk in the second, went first to third on a Winsett single, then scoring on a swinging bunt by Volpe.
 
Following a solo home run by the Red Storm to answer in the top of the third, Skettini led off the bottom half with a single. Lesch delivered a base knock that allowed Skettini to go first to third, with Skettini scoring later in the inning on a sacrifice fly.
 
Again in the fourth, St. John's pushed across a run but the Broncs responded. Barbiere led off the inning with a double. A Red Storm error allowed the second baseman to come around and score. The Broncs then extended the lead to 8-2 on a Bardatsos single later in the inning.
 
In the sixth, the Broncs faced their toughest test of the game. The Red Storm loaded the bases with no outs and Rider turned to Dylan Heine (Haddonfield, NJ/Haddonfield) out of the pen. Heine retired the first two batters he faced, and limited the damage to just a single run, keeping the Broncs on top, 8-3.
 
Winsett led off the bottom of the inning with a double. After a Volpe walk and Skettini was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out, Lesch turned on a 1-0 pitch for a grand slam, the effectively put the game away.
 
The Red Storm scored one in the seventh, the Broncs countered with a run in the eighth, and St. John's closed out the scoring with two in the ninth.
 
Quotes & Notes
"Game one, we had some opportunities, but we never got the hit across. Second game, we swung the bat, were aggressive and got the job done."
 
"Luke had a big hit, it took it from 8-3 to 12-3 and really took some of that pressure off. Dylan pitched good, he really settled us down too. We have consistent hitters that have been here for three years, and they're really getting better."
 
"Biggest thing is we won the series, that's how we look at it." – Head Coach Dr. Barry Davis
 
- Frank Doelling (Riverside, NJ/Riverside[Rowan College at Burlington County]) started the opening game, allowing four runs in four innings on six hits. He struck out three.
- Vincent Vittaco (Staten Island, NY/Monsignor Farrell) started game two, throwing 5+ innings, allowing three runs on six hits to earn the win. He struck out three.
- Heine pitched 2.2 innings, allowing one run on one hit. He struck out four.
- Cal Stalzer (West Des Moines, IA/Valley[Kirkwood CC/George Washington]) threw the final 1.1 innings in game two. He allowed one run on two hits, striking out three.
 
Broncs by the Numbers
- Lesch led the Broncs with five hits on the day, four of which came in game two.
- Seven different Broncs recorded a hit on the day.
- Volpe extended his hitting streak to eight-straight games.
- Lesch's home run is his third of the season.
- Rider pitchers combined for 13 strikeouts across the pair of games.
 
Up Next
- The Broncs will continue play in the Liberty Bell Classic on Tuesday with a trip to Delaware. Game time is set for 7 p.m.