LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – The Rider University baseball team cranked out five home runs and got a brilliant pitching display to defeat Manhattan 11-1 Saturday afternoon. The win gets the Broncs to 20-16 overall and 8-3 in the MAAC, while the Jaspers fall to 16-19 on the year and 6-8 in league play.
 
The Broncs jumped out to an early lead for the second-straight game. Jack Winsett (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern Regional) led off the game with a single. After a Socrates Bardatsos (Ridgefield, NJ/St. Joseph's Regional) walk put runners on the corners with one out, Luke Lesch (Gloucester Township, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) drove in Rider's first run with a single past the first-baseman down the line. Brian Skettini (Midland Park, NJ/Ridgewood) brought in another run with a ground out. Scott Shaw (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) was hit by a pitch to bring up Brendan O'Donnell (Malvern, PA/Great Valley). O'Donnell crushed a breaking ball 415 feet over the fence in straight-away center extending the advantage to 5-0.
 
In the third, O'Donnell came to the plate with the bases empty and one out. He jumped on the first pitch of the at bat, hitting it over the fence in left for his second home run of the day.
 
Still leading 6-0 in the seventh, Lesch led off the bottom half of the inning with a walk. Skettini followed with an absolute moonshot that hit halfway up the trees beyond the left-field fence.
 
The Jaspers got a run back in the eighth with a solo homer, but would not plate another run in the contest.
 
The Broncs continued the home run derby in their half of the eighth. Bardatsos and Lesch hit back-to-back bombs, including Lesch's shot that travelled 427 feet over the wall in right center, providing the Broncs with an 11-1 that would go on to be the final score.
 
Quotes & Notes
"The big hit was O'Donnell's three-run homer. If you're up 2-0 early, that's nice, but being up 5-0 it really just allows Frank a chance to attack the zone."
 
"Our bats were solid, especially that middle of the order. We're big and physical there. They got pitches to hit and took advantage of it."
 
"We have an older team, and expectations are high. We should come out tomorrow with a killer mentality." – Head Coach Dr. Barry Davis
 
"I struggled a little bit earlier in the year with my command, but ever since the Fairfield game, I've really got my confidence back."
 
"When we got that early lead, I just knew if I kept pitching the way I've been pitching the last few weeks, the game was over."
 
"I like pitching in the biggest games, and conference games are some of the biggest we play all year." – Senior Pitcher Frank Doelling
 
"Yesterday they were pounding me inside, so I just took a step back off the plate and drove the ball."
 
"It would be awesome [to set the single season home run record], but that really doesn't matter. I'm more focused on winning the regular season, getting first place, and winning another championship" – Junior Outfielder Brendan O'Donnell
  
- Frank Doelling (Riverside, NJ/Riverside[Rowan College at Burlington County]) was dominant on the mound, throwing seven shutout innings, allowing just three hits, and striking out 10.
- Frank DelGuercio (Millstone, NJ/The Hun School of Princeton) came in for the final two innings, allowing just the solo home run as his only hit. He struck out two.
- Rider improves to 17-0 when scoring six or more runs this season.
 
Broncs by the Numbers
- Seven Broncs had hits in the game, led by two each from John Volpe (Sea Girt, NJ/Wall), Lesch, Skettini, and O'Donnell.
- Each of the top seven hitters in the Broncs' lineup scored, led by three from Lesch.
- Winsett has now hit safely in 11-straight games.
- O'Donnell now leads the MAAC with 12 home runs.
- Lesch hit his seventh home run of the season.
- Bardatsos homered for the fourth time this year.
- Skettini's home run was his third of the season.
 
Up Next
- The Broncs go for the series sweep Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for noon.