RICHMOND, VA – The Rider University baseball team scored 15 runs in the top of the ninth to come-from-behind victory over Richmond Friday afternoon. The Broncs improve to 9-4 on the season, while the Spiders drop to 6-7.
 
Richmond opened the scoring in the first on an RBI-double with no outs that put runners on second and third. The Broncs got a lineout, followed by back-to-back strikeouts to get out of the inning with no further damage.
 
Rider responded in the third. Richie Sica (Wycoff, NJ/Ramapo) led off the inning with a double, then John Volpe (Sea Girt, NJ/Wall) was hit by a pitch. Two batters later, Socrates Bardatsos (Ridgefield, NJ/St. Joseph's Regional) drew a walk on the 14^th pitch of the at bat, and after a failed pickoff allowed Sica to score, Brian Skettini (Midland Park, NJ/Ridgewood) drove in a run with a single to left, giving Rider a 2-1 lead.
 
In the bottom of the third, Richmond got a two-run home run as part of a three-run inning that gave the Spiders the lead at 4-2.
 
Volpe led off the top of the fifth with an infield single, then Scott Shaw (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) drew a walk. Two batters later, Skettini hit an infield single to load the bases. Luke Lesch (Gloucester Twp., NJ/Gloucester Catholic) got just enough force the only play to first, allowing Volpe to score.
 
In the seventh, Richmond's Jared Sprauge-Lott hit his second two-run home run of the game, extending the Spider's advantage to 6-3. The Spiders would add on another unearned run in the eighth.
 
Down to their final at bat, the Broncs got the inning started innocently enough when Sica reached on an infield single. After a strikeout, Rider caught fire. Shaw delivered a single back up the middle, then Bardatsos walked to load the bases. Sica came in to score on a passed ball, then Skettini drove in a pair with a ground-rule double. After Ryan Ulisse (Columbus, NJ/Holy Cross) came in as a pinch runner, he was brought in by a Lesch single that tied the game. Brendan O'Donnell (Malvern, PA/Great Valley) then gave the Broncs with a two-run shot to left.
 
Following a pitching change, three-straight Broncs drew walks to load the bases, forcing another pitching change. Volpe was hit by a pitch to drive in a run, then Shaw hit a chopper that ricocheted off of the second baseman's glove into right field, scoring a pair. Bardatsos followed with a single that scored a run, making it 13-7. After a strikeout, Lesch walked to load the bases once again. O'Donnell singled to left, driving in a run, followed by back-to-back two-run doubles from Jack Winsett (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern Regional) and Jordan Erbe (Toms River, NJ/Toms River South [UMass]). By the time the inning's third out was recorded, the Broncs had pushed across 15 runs on nine hits, batting around twice in the frame.
 
Quotes & Notes
"Our guys battled and never quit. Fortunately, we were able to string together some quality at bats in the ninth. It's hard to be critical when you find a way to win." – Head Coach Dr. Barry Davis
 
- Dylan Heine (Haddonfield, NJ/Haddonfield) got the start, going four innings and allowing four runs on 11 hits. He struck out four.
- Will Gallagher (Cranford, NJ/Cranford) tossed two innings out of the pen, allowing two runs on three hits. He struck out one.
- Alec Sachais (Egg Harbor Township, NJ/Holy Spirit) threw two innings, allowing one unearned run on two hits to pick up the win. He struck out two.
- Christian Aiello (Hewitt, NJ/West Milford) fired a perfect ninth to close out the victory.
 
Broncs by the Numbers
- All nine Bronc starters recorded hits in the game, led by three from Skettini.
- All nine spots in the Rider lineup scored a run, led by three each from Volpe and Sica.
- Eight Broncs recorded an RBI, led by three each from Skettini and O'Donnell.
 
Up Next
The Broncs continue the three game set with Richmond on Saturday. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m.