POMONA, NY – Socrates Bardatsos (Ridgefield, NJ/St. Joseph's Regional) hit a sacrifice fly in the top of the 12^th, scoring Jack Winsett (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern Regional) for what would be the deciding run for the Rider University baseball team, who defeated top-seeded Fairfield, 4-3, in the winner's bracket of the MAAC Tournament Thursday morning.
 
Rider (27-24) got Winsett, the leadoff man on in the 12^th, thanks to a fielding error by the Stag shortstop. After a stolen base got Winsett into scoring position, he advanced to third on a groundout to second, setting up the Bardatsos sacrifice fly. Rider retired the side in order in the bottom of the 12^th to close out the victory.
 
Fairfield (31-20) opened the scoring in the bottom of the first, plating a pair on the strength of three hits and a walk.
 
The Broncs were held at bay until the fourth. John Volpe (Sea Girt, NJ/Wall) led off the inning with a single to center. Bardatsos followed with a walk. Luke Lesch (Gloucester Township, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) then hit a single to right to load the bases. After Brendan O'Donnell (Malvern, PA/Great Valley) walked to bring in a run, Brian Skettini (Midland Park, NJ/Ridgewood) legged out a fielder's choice to drive in another and tie the game at 2-2. Jake Barbiere (Randolph, NJ/Randolph) gave the Broncs the lead with a single to left center.
 
The Stags were not without their chances, but the Broncs defense was on point, turning double plays in both the third and the fourth to keep the lead. Fairfield finally broke through in the sixth, scoring on a triple and sacrifice fly to tie the score at three.
 
Rider's best chance to break the tie in regulation came in the seventh. Winsett reached on an error with one out. Volpe followed with a single that put runners on the corners with one out. But, a strike out and a fly out ended the threat.
 
In the bottom of the ninth, Fairfield used a leadoff walk to get a runner in scoring position with one out. This time it was Rider getting the strikeout followed by a ground out to take us to extra innings.
 
In the 10^th, Alex Diamantis (Staten Island, NY/St. Peter's Boys) and Richie Sica (Wycoff, NJ/Ramapo), who came on as a defensive replacement in the ninth, each made highlight reel catches to keep Fairfield off the board and set up the 12^th-inning heroics.
 
Quotes & Notes
"Cal Stalzer was unbelievable in relief, throwing nearly 100 pitches and he gutted it out against a great team."
 
"We did just enough. Get the ball in play, get the guy over, and get him in."
 
"It's huge to get the win. We may not have enough pitching to go through 3, 4, 5 games, but we have enough to get to tomorrow." – Head Coach Dr. Barry Davis
 
"Energy was high, very positive. We're excited to keep playing in the winners bracket."
 
"It gives you confidence to throw strikes. I don't know if I threw enough, but every time I did, those guys made the plays for us to win the game."
 
"It's a lot of fun. Getting that hug from Skettini again was nice. There's nothing like getting the final out of a game." – Graduate Student pitcher Cal Stalzer
 
- Vincent Vitacco (Staten Island, NY/Monsignor Farrell) got the start for the Broncs, earning a no decision after throwing 6.1 innings and allowing three runs on seven hits. He struck out a pair.
- Cal Stalzer (West Des Moines, IA/Valley[Kirkwood CC/George Washington]) tossed the final 5.2 innings without allowing a hit to earn the win. He struck out five.
- Stalzer's 5.2 innings are his most in an outing with the Broncs.
- With a walk in the top of the fourth, Bardatsos set the Rider program record with 39 on the season.
- It is the second time this season the Broncs have defeated Fairfield in a 12-inning game, have also taken a 4-3 game over the Stags after three extra frames during the regular season.
 
Broncs by the Numbers
- Four Broncs recorded hits in the game, led by two each from Volpe and Lesch.
- Neither team recorded a hit after the seventh inning.
 
Up Next
- The Broncs advance to day three of the MAAC Tournament, where they will face the winner of Canisius and Marist in a winner's bracket game at 11 a.m.