LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – The Rider University baseball team, could not find a way to push runners across the plate Tuesday afternoon, falling to Seton Hall, 6-2. The Broncs fall to 20-18 with the loss, while the Pirates improve to 12-28.
 
The Pirates took down the Broncs with multiple small innings, plating single runs in the second, third, and fourth to force Rider to turn to the bullpen. The bullpen allowed an unearned run in the fifth, but kept the Broncs in the game.
 
Rider finally broke through in the sixth. Brian Skettini (Midland Park, NJ/Ridgewood) was hit by pitch with two outs. After advancing to second on a wild pitch, Jake Barbiere (Randolph, NJ/Randolph) drove Skettini in with a single, cutting the deficit to 4-1.
 
In the eighth, a hit batter and pair of walks loaded the bases with two outs for the Broncs. But much like the entirety of the game, the Broncs would strand the runners on the base paths.
 
The Pirates took advantage of the situation and extended the lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning.
 
Trailing 6-1, Rider fought back in the ninth. Scott Shaw (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) led off the inning with a walk. Jordan Erbe (Toms River, NJ/Toms River South[UMass]) followed with a single. Two batters later, John Volpe (Sea Girt, NJ/Wall) reached on a throwing error that loaded the bases. Socrates Bardatsos (Ridgefield, NJ/St. Joseph's Regional) hit a sacrifice fly to bring in Shaw. Skettini then singled to re-load the bases and bring the tying run to the plate, but a strike out left them stranded to close out the game.
 
Quotes & Notes
"Overall, we did not play well. It just wasn't good enough today. It's disappointing."
 
"We prevented the big inning for most of the game, but the two Seton Hall tacked on in the eighth made it tougher to rally."
 
"We hit the ball hard at times, but never enough to string anything together."– Head Coach Dr. Barry Davis
 
- Kenny Quijano (Teaneck, NJ/St. Mary's) started for the Broncs, he allowed three runs in 3+ innings. He gave up seven hits and struck out two.
- Kyle Smith (Stratford, NJ/Sterling) was the first man out of the pen Tuesday. He threw three innings and allowed just one unearned run. He gave up four hits and struck out a pair.
- Cal Stalzer (West Des Moines, IA/Valley[KirkwoodCC/George Washington]) threw the final two innings, allowing a pair of runs. He gave up four hits and struck out one.
 
Broncs by the Numbers
- Four Broncs recorded hits in the game, led by a pair from Erbe.
- Bardatsos has reached base in 23-straight games. Volpe has a hit in seven-straight contests.
- Rider left 12 men on base in the game.
- The Broncs were 2-11 with runners in scoring position.
 
Up Next
- The Broncs play their final non-conference game of the season Wednesday with a trip to Penn. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.