RICHMOND, VA – The Rider University baseball team needed 10 innings Saturday afternoon, but came away with a 9-6 victory over Richmond. The Broncs improve to 10-4 on the season, while the Spiders fall to 6-8.
 
The Broncs got on the board first in the fifth. Brian Skettini (Midland Park, NJ/Ridgewood) led off the inning by reaching on an error. Two batters later, Brendan O'Donnell (Malvern, PA/Great Valley) hit a moonshot over the scoreboard in left-center to give Rider a 2-0 lead. Jack Winsett (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern Regional) and Jordan Erbe (Toms River, NJ/Toms River South [UMass]) followed with back-to-back singles that put runners on the corners. With two outs, John Volpe (Sea Girt, NJ/Wall) reached on an error that allowed Winsett to score from third.
 
Rider extended the lead in the sixth. Socrates Bardatsos (Ridgefield, NJ/St. Joseph's Regional) led off the inning with a single. Skettini then singled and the runners advanced to second and third on an error. Luke Lesch (Gloucester Twp., NJ/Gloucester Catholic) drove in the pair with a base hit to left center, extending the advantage to 5-0.
 
The Spiders stormed back in the bottom of the sixth, getting on the board with a sacrifice fly, before a two-run home run cut the lead to 5-3. Richmond would take the lead courtesy of a three-run home run in the bottom of the seventh.
 
Lesch would tie the game for the Broncs with a one-out solo home run in top of the eighth.
 
Richmond had a chance to win the game in the ninth, loading the bases with one out. But the Broncs got a ground ball to first, and got the force at the plate before a pop up to second sent the game to extra innings tied 6-6.
 
In the top of the tenth, O'Donnell hit a two-out double to right. Winsett then hit a sinking line drive that the Richmond second baseman could not field, and the ball ricocheted into shallow center, allowing O'Donnell to score from second. Erbe then doubled to put runners on second and third. A fielding error by the Richmond center fielder brought in both Winsett and Erbe, producing the final score.
 
Quotes & Notes
"It was a roller coaster type game with several momentum swings. We were able to remain mentally tough and keep battling. A good win for us." – Head Coach Dr. Barry Davis
 
- With 434 wins at Gloucester County Community College, 137 at Georgia Southwestern State University, and now 429 wins at Rider, Head Coach Barry Davis recorded his 1,000^th career victory.
- Frank Doelling (Riverside, NJ/Riverside[Rowan College at Burlington County]) got the start for the Broncs, tossing 5.2 innings and allowing three runs on six hits. He struck out five and did not allow any walks.
- Clayton Poliey (Ringwood, NJ/Don Bosco Prep) was first out of the pen, giving up two runs on no hits in an inning of work.
- Danny Kirwin (Lansdale, PA/North Penn) tossed the final 3.1 innings to earn the win, his third of the season. He allowed one run on two hits. He struck out three.
- Skettini has reached safely in all 14 games this season.
- Erbe and Winsett have each hit safely in seven-straight games.
- The Broncs are 2-0 in extra-inning games this season.
 
Broncs by the Numbers
- All nine Bronc starters recorded hits in the game, led by two each from Lesch, O'Donnell, and Erbe.
- Six Broncs scored runs in the game, with Skettini, O'Donnell, and Winsett each touching home twice.
- Five Broncs recorded RBIs with O'Donnell's three leading the way.
- O'Donnell's home run is his third of the season.
- Lesch's home run is his second of the year.
 
Up Next
The Broncs conclude the three game set with Richmond on Saturday. First pitch has been moved up due to inclement weather in the forecast to 10:00 a.m.