WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – The Rider University baseball team bounced back in a tight game Saturday, defeating Monmouth 6-5 to even the weekend series at 1-1. The Broncs improve to 22-19 on the season and 9-5 in MAAC play. The Hawks fall below .500 on the year at 19-10, and drop to 8-6 against league competition.
 
Monmouth jumped out to an early lead for the second-straight day, plating a pair in the second on a double, triple, and single.
 
Rider immediately responded in the top of the third. Jack Winsett (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern Regional) hit a two-out single. He came all the way around to score, when Socrates Bardatsos (Ridgefield, NJ/St. Joseph's Regional) punched a double the other way down the left field line, cutting the lead to 2-1.
 
Monmouth answered the run with a towering home run by James Harmstead, his MAAC-leading 14^th of the season.
 
After a one-out single by Brian Skettini (Midland Park, NJ/Ridgewood), Rider saw the solo shot and raised a two-run bomb by its home run leader, Brendan O'Donnell (Malvern, PA/Great Valley), who sent the first pitch he saw over the center field fence. The homer tied the game at three.
 
In the sixth, Luke Lesch (Gloucester Township, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) led off the inning with a first-pitch home run, giving the Broncs their first lead of the series. Skettini followed with a single. Scott Shaw (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) then doubled to right center, putting runners on second and third with no outs. A sacrifice fly by O'Donnell extended the lead to 5-3.
 
In the eighth, Skettini led off the inning with a walk. He advanced to second on a ground out, then to third on a wild pitch. O'Donnell then drove in his fourth run of the game with single to center.
 
Monmouth answered with a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth.
 
In the ninth, Monmouth got a leadoff single, followed by a double to the gap that made it a 6-5 game. But the Broncs got a fly out and a pair of strike outs to close out the victory.
 
Quotes & Notes
"We pitched great today. Not just Frank, but Kirwin and Cal were excellent too."

"O'Donnell and Luke's home runs were both big." - Head Coach Dr. Barry Davis

- Frank Doelling (Riverside, NJ/Riverside[Rowan College at Burlington County]) was solid on the mound, throwing six innings, allowing three runs on six hits, and striking out six. He earned his fourth win of the season.
- Danny Kirwin (Lansdale, PA/North Penn) tossed two innings, allowing two runs on three hits. He struck out a pair.
- Cal Stalzer (West Des Moines, IA/Valley[Kirkwood CC/George Washington]) came in for the final three outs. He struck out two without allowing a run to earn his MAAC-leading seventh save of the season.
- Doelling has been dominant in MAAC play, improving to 3-0 with a 1.67 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 32.1 innings against league foes.
- Rider improves to 19-0 when scoring six or more runs this season.
 
Broncs by the Numbers
- Seven Broncs had hits in the game, led by three from Bardatsos.
- O'Donnell drove in four runs, his 11^th multi-RBI game of the season.
- O'Donnell is now second in the MAAC with 13 home runs.
- Lesch hit his eighth home run of the season.
- John Volpe (Sea Girt, NJ/Wall) has hit safely in 10-straight games.
 
Up Next
- The Broncs and Hawks will play the rubber game Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.