JERSEY CITY, NJ – The Rider University baseball team ended the regular season on a high note, defeating Saint Peter's 12-7 Saturday afternoon. The Broncs close out the regular season 25-24, and end MAAC play 12-10. The Peacocks end the season at 9-41 overall and 6-17 in league play.
 
The Broncs got started early in the first. John Volpe (Sea Girt, NJ/Wall) got the rally started with a one-out walk. Socrates Bardatsos (Ridgefield, NJ/St. Joseph's Regional) followed with a single that placed runners on the corners. Luke Lesch (Gloucester Township, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) drew a walk to load the bases for Brendan O'Donnell (Malvern, PA/Great Valley). O'Donnell hit a one-hopper off the centerfield field fence for a double that cleared the bases. Scott Shaw (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) then scored O'Donnell with a double of his own. Shaw would later come in to score on a double by Alex Diamantis (Staten Island, NY/St. Peter's Boys) to put Rider up 5-0 after the top of the first.
 
The Peacocks responded with three in their half of the first, but the Broncs had the answer. Jack Winsett (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern Regional) and Volpe led off the second with back-to-back singles. With two outs, O'Donnell singled to left bringing home both runners and extending the lead to 7-3.
 
In the fourth, Bardatsos reached with a two-out single. Lesch then pushed across a run with an RBI-double to center. The scored stayed 8-3 into the sixth, when a three-run home run from Saint Peter's trimmed the lead to 8-6.
 
Rider again would have the immediate answer. O'Donnell was hit by a pitch with one out. Shaw drew a walk to put runners on first and second. Jake Barbiere (Randolph, NJ/Randolph) ripped a single to left that scored O'Donnell. Diamantis then got hit by a pitch to load the bases. Richie Sica (Wycoff, NJ/Ramapo) then laid down a perfect squeeze bunt that fell into no man's land and everyone was safe, scoring another run. Winsett then hit a sacrifice fly to make it 11-6.
 
The Peacocks got a solo home run in the seventh to cut the lead back to four. Again, the Broncs responded. Bardatsos led off the eighth with a walk. With two outs, Shaw placed a double down the left field line that scored Bardatsos, extending the lead to 12-7.
 
Quotes & Notes
- Vincent Vitacco (Staten Island, NY/Monsignor Farrell) got the start for the Broncs on the mound, going four innings and allowing three runs on seven hits. He struck out four and walked just one.
- Kenny Quijano (Teaneck, NJ/St. Mary's) tossed the next 1.1 innings to earn the win, giving up three runs on just two hits. He struck out one.
- Kyle Smith (Stratford, NJ/Sterling) struck out four in his 1.2 innings. He gave up one run on two hits.
- Cal Stalzer (West Des Moines, IA/Valley[Kirkwood CC/George Washington]) retired all six batters that he faced to secure the victory. The first five batters he faced were all sat down via the strike out.
- Rider improves to 21-0 when leading after six innings.
- With the win, the Broncs secure the fifth-seed in next week's MAAC Tournament.
 
Broncs by the Numbers
- All nine Broncs in the starting lineup recorded hits in the game, led by three from Bardatsos.
- O'Donnell had five RBI's in the game to lead the Broncs.
- Bardatsos scored a team-high three runs.
- Bardatsos has hit safely in nine-straight games.
 
Up Next
- The Broncs will defend the MAAC Championship in Pomona New York, beginning Wednesday, when they play fourth-seeded Monmouth at 3 p.m.