SHELBY, NC – The Rider University baseball team took two games from Gardner-Webb Saturday afternoon. The Broncs won game one, a seven inning contest, 2-0, then took game two 7-3. The Broncs improve to 2-1 on the season, while the Bulldogs fall to 1-2.
 
Gardner-Webb threatened early in game one, putting the leadoff runner on in all three innings, but a pair of double play balls kept Rider out of trouble.
 
The Broncs came through in the fourth. Scott Shaw (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) led off the inning with a single. After a groundout moved Shaw to second, Brendan O'Donnell (Malvern, PA/Great Valley) hit a home run out to left field.
 
With two outs in the sixth, the Broncs threatened again. Luke Lesch (Gloucester Township, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) and Brian Skettini (Midland Park, NJ/Ridgewood) hit back-to-back singles, then Jack Winsett (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern) drew a walk to load the bases, but the Bulldogs would get a clutch strikeout to end the rally.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, a leadoff walk brought the tying run to the plate, but a pair of strikeouts wrapped around a fly to center ended the game.
 
In game two, the Rider bats came alive early. O'Donnell led off the second with a double, then a single by Lesch put runners on the corners with no outs. Skettini followed with a sacrifice fly to give the Broncs the early lead.
 
In the third, John Volpe (Sea Girt, NJ/Wall) drew a one-out walk. Shaw drew a walk to put two on with one out. After a pop up to short, O'Donnell delivered a single to right center that scored Volpe and put runners on the corners. Lesch followed with a double that scored both runners. After a Skettini walk, Winsett capped the rally with a single that scored Lesch.
 
In the fourth, the Bulldogs took advantage of three walks, a single, and a hit batter to plate a pair of runs. With the bases loaded and two outs, the Broncs turned to the pen, and in his collegiate debut, Clayton Poliey (Ringwood, NJ/Don Bosco Prep) got the strikeout to end the inning with no further damage.
 
The Broncs extended the lead back to five in the sixth. Winsett opened the inning with a walk. Richie Sica (Wycoff, NJ/Ramapo) then singled. After a sacrifice bunt moved the runners to second and third, Volpe hit a sacrifice fly and Shaw drove in a run with a two-out double. Socrates Bardatsos (Ridgefield, NJ/St. Joseph's Regional) appeared to keep the rally going with a single to right, but the Bulldogs threw out Shaw trying to score on the play, ending the inning.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, the Bulldogs got a run back on a solo home run, but would never threaten again.
 
Quotes & Notes
"The pitching was excellent. Both Doelling and Kirwin in game one and Montone and Poliey in game two. We also played solid defense behind them."
 
"O'Donnell's home run was obviously huge in game one. In game two, we put together a big inning early, giving us a chance to attack the zone with our pitchers. It's much easier to pitch with a four or five run lead." – Head Coach Dr. Barry Davis
 
- Frank Doelling (Riverside, NJ/Riverside[Rowan College at Burlington County]) got the start in game one, allowing no runs and just four hits in 5.1 innings to earn the win. He struck out three and walked two.
- Danny Kirwin (Lansdale, PA/North Penn) came on in relief, pitching the final 1.2 innings of game one to earn the save. He did not allow a hit and struck out four, while walking just one.  
- In game two, Chris Montone (Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown) made his collegiate debut, pitching 3.2 innings and allowing two runs on just one hit. He struck out two.
- Poliey also made his collegiate debut, throwing the final 5.1 innings out of the pen to earn the win. He allowed one run on two hits and struck out five, while walking none.
 
Broncs by the Numbers
- Eight Broncs recorded hits on the day, led by three each from Shaw, O'Donnell, and Lesch.
- O'Donnell's home run is his first of the season after hitting a Rider-record 20 a season ago.
- Volpe and Bardatsos have each recorded at least one hit in all three games this season.
 
Up Next
The Broncs and Bulldogs complete the four-game set on Sunday. First pitch for the finale is scheduled for 12 p.m.