LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – The Rider University baseball team jumped out to a 6-0 lead before holding on for a 6-4 victory over Manhattan Friday afternoon. The Broncs improve to 19-16 on the season and 7-3 in MAAC games. The Jaspers drop to 16-18 for the year, including a 6-7 mark in league play.
 
Rider got on the board first in the second. Scott Shaw (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) started the rally with a one-out single. Alex Diamantis (Staten Island, NY/Saint Peter's Boys) followed with a single to center field and Jordan Erbe (Toms River, NJ/Toms River South[UMass]) singled to load the bases. Jack Winsett (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern Regional) put Rider on the board with a fly ball out to left center that was misplayed by the Jaspers center fielder allowing everyone to safely advance 90 feet. After John Volpe (Sea Girt, NJ/Wall) was hit by a pitch to bring in another run, Socrates Bardatsos (Ridgefield, NJ/St. Joseph's Regional) hit a ground ball to first. Manhattan fired home to get the force, but Bardatsos hustled down the line to beat the throw and Winsett never stopped, coming around from second to put Rider on top 3-0.
 
In the fifth, Bardatsos led off with a single, followed by a walk by Brian Skettini (Midland Park, NJ/Ridgewood). Luke Lesch (Gloucester Township, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) brought a run in with a single to extend the lead to 4-0.
 
The Broncs tacked on more in the sixth. Erbe reached on a fielding error to start the inning. Winsett and Volpe followed with back-to-back singles to plate Erbe. Bardatsos then doubled to left center to extend the lead to 6-0.
 
Manhattan answered with three runs in the seventh and another in the eighth, to pull within two. In the ninth, the Broncs sat down the Jaspers in order to preserve the victory.
 
Quotes & Notes
"We swung the bat well early. Cal was good once he got settled in. Papeo did a good job. It was like we were in control without being in control."
 
"We left to many opportunities out there. We could have really extended the lead and they got three runs and they're right back in it, and now it's a high-wire act."
 
"It's a win we'll take it. The guys at the bottom had good at-bats, especially Erbe." – Head Coach Dr. Barry Davis
 
"We were more aggressive. We were attack our pitches and it allowed us to score runs."
 
"Had two good days of practice Tuesday and Wednesday, then a light day yesterday to make sure we were ready for today." – Junior catcher Socrates Bardatsos
 
- Joe Papeo (Matawan, NJ/Old Bridge) fired 6.1 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits, to earn the victory. He struck out two.
- Kyle Smith (Stratford, NJ/Sterling) followed with 1.1 innings, allowing a single run on three hits.
- Cal Stalzer (West Des Moines, IA/Valley[Kirkwood CC/George Washington]) tossed the final 1.1 innings, allowing no runs on one hit. His punch out to end the game was his lone strike out on the day. He earned his MAAC-leading sixth save.
- Rider improves to 16-0 when scoring six or more runs this season.
 
Broncs by the Numbers
- Eight Broncs had hits in the game, led by a trio from Bardatsos.
- The Bronc's 7-9 hitters went 4-for-12 with three runs scored.
- Winsett has now hit safely in ten-straight games.
 
Up Next
- The Broncs remain home for the second game of the series on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.