LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – The Rider University baseball team opened MAAC play in style Friday, topping Quinnipiac, 11-3 at Sonny Pittaro Field. The Broncs improve to 14-7 on the season, while the Bobcats fall to 6-12. It was the MAAC opener for both teams.
John Volpe (Sea Girt, NJ/Wall) opened the game for the Broncs with a single.
Scott Shaw (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) followed with a high fly ball that the Bobcat left fielder had in his glove before dropping to put runners on the corners. After Volpe came in to score on a wild pitch, the Broncs would eventually add a second run on a single by
Luke Lesch (Gloucester Twp., NJ/Gloucester Catholic).
The Broncs added on in the fourth.
Brendan O'Donnell (Malvern, PA/Great Valley) led off the inning with a double. After moving up 90 feet on a ground out, O'Donnell came in to score on a wild pitch.
In the sixth, Lesch singled to lead off the inning. O'Donnell then hit a screaming line drive that cleared the left field fence, extending the lead to 5-0.
Rider broke the game open in the seventh. Shaw led off the inning with a walk.
Socrates Bardatsos (Ridgefield, NJ/St. Joseph's Regional) doubled and
Brian Skettini (Midland Park, NJ/Ridgewood) walked to load the bases. Two batters later, O'Donnell doubled down the line in left to drive in a pair, then
Jack Winsett (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern Regional) drove in two with a single.
In the eighth, Bardatsos drew a one-out walk. Skettini then singled. Two batters later, O'Donnell was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Winsett followed with a single dumped into center field that scored two and made the game 11-0.
Quinnipiac scored three runs in the ninth to produce the final score.
Quotes & Notes
"You always want to get off to a good start, and we did today. It doesn't matter if the score is 11-3 or 3-1, what matters is we did enough to win the game."
"At the end of the day, it's as simple as throw strikes, make the routine play, and put the ball in play. O'Donnell made a hell of a play in right field, and then the home run was big."
"Dylan was great, and Sachais was solid in his two innings to keep the game at bay. We had a few little incidents here and there, but nine innings is a long game, and we just have to keep playing."
– Head Coach Dr. Barry Davis
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Dylan Heine (Haddonfield, NJ/Haddonfield) got the start, going five scoreless innings, allowing five hits and striking out six.
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Alec Sachais (Egg Harbor Twp., NJ/Holy Spirit) pitched two no-hit innings, striking out three.
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Gavin Hawkes (Yardley, PA/Pennsbury) followed with a scoreless inning. He allowed one hit and struck out one.
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Colby McNeely (Milmont Park, PA/The Haverford School) threw 0.1 innings, allowing three runs on three hits.
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Will Gallagher (Cranford, NJ/Cranford) got the game's final two outs. He did not allow a hit.
Broncs by the Numbers
- Eight different Broncs recorded hits in the game, led by four from Winsett.
- All nine starters reached safely in the game.
- Six Broncs scored, with O'Donnell crossing the plate three times.
- O'Donnell's home run is his eighth of the season, and his seventh-straight weekend series game with a home run.
Up Next
The Broncs return to action Sunday, when the Broncs and Bobcats will play two. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m.
