LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – The Rider University baseball team split a double-header Sunday to earn a win of a three-game series against Quinnipiac, winning, 8-2, in game one, before falling, 12-2, in game two. The Broncs are now to 15-8 on the season and 2-1 in MAAC play, while the Bobcats are 7-13 on the year, and 1-2 in league play.
 
Rider opened the scoring in the third. John Volpe (Sea Girt, NJ/Wall) led off the inning with a single. Scott Shaw (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) followed with an infield single. Both runners came in to score on a double to the right center field gap by Socrates Bardatsos (Ridgefield, NJ/St. Joseph's Regional). Two batters later, Luke Lesch (Gloucester Twp., NJ/Gloucester Catholic) hit a double inside the bag at first, scoring Bardatsos to make it 3-0.
 
After the Bobcats got a solo home run in the top of the fourth, Will Gallagher (Cranford, NJ/Cranford) reached on an error to begin the bottom half. After advancing to second on a wild pitch with one out and third on an infield single by Volpe, Gallagher came in to score on a sacrifice fly by Bardatsos.
 
The Broncs broke the game open in the seventh. Bardatsos hit a one-out single to left. Brian Skettini (Midland Park, NJ/Ridgewood) then hit a high chopper that just got over the first baseman, and Lesch walked to load the bases. Brendan O'Donnell (Malvern, PA/Great Valley) then hit an infield single that scored a run. After a balk brought in a run, Jack Winsett (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern Regional) drove in two with a single to left.
 
The Bobcats got a solo home run in the ninth, but would get no closer.
 
In game two, Quinnipiac saw the leadoff batter get on base in each of the first eight innings, scoring one in the first, three in the second, and one in the fourth to build a 5-0 lead.
 
In the fourth, Bardatsos drew a one-out walk. Skettini followed with a single through the left side. Two batters later, O'Donnell hit a ball that dropped in down the right-field line, just beyond the outstretched arm of the right fielder for a two-run triple.
 
The Bobcats immediately responded with three in the fifth, then another three in the eighth, and a final run in the ninth to produce the final score.
 
Quotes & Notes
"Kirwin pitched out of the jam in the sixth. He's been one of our better guys out of the bullpen. That was the key, that it was almost like he was closing the game in the sixth inning."
 
"We're a pretty good offense. It's just a matter of putting together consistent at bats each time they come up. Sometimes you just need to put it in play. Sometimes you need to get a hit and get on base."
 
"If you win the series on a consistent basis, you're going to be where you need to be at the end. That's the focus. We need to learn some things from this last game." – Head Coach Dr. Barry Davis
 
"I felt really good today. It was good to be able to get on the mound for the first time today. I personally like throwing on dirt mounds, rather than turf, so that helped me out a lot."
 
"As a pitcher, it's tough when you have to go out and pitch each inning in a 0-0 or 1-0 game. It allows me to settle in and just make my pitches." – Graduate Pitcher Frank Doelling
 
- Rider has won five of its six weekend series this season.
- Frank Doelling (Riverside, NJ/Riverside [Rowan College at Burlington County]) got the start in game one, allowing just one run on five hits in 5.2 innings. He struck out five to earn the win.
- Danny Kirwin (Lansdale, PA/North Penn) tossed the final 3.1 innings, giving up one run on two hits to earn the save, his fifth of the season. He struck out three.
- Brian Young (Neptune, NJ/Communication) started game two, throwing 1.1 innings, allowing four runs on four hits and taking the loss. He struck out three.
- Clayton Poliey (Ringwood, NJ/Don Bosco Prep) pitched 3.0 innings, allowing three runs, just one earned. He allowed two hits and struck out four.
- Christian Aiello (Hewitt, NJ/West Milford) threw 1.1 innings, giving up one run on one hit. He struck out a pair.
- Gavin Alloway (National Park, NJ/Gateway Regional) also tossed 1.1 innings, he gave up two runs, one earned, on three hits.
- Chris Montone (Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown) allowed two runs, one earned, on two hits in 2.0 innings out of the pen.
- Skettini has reached safely in all 23 games this season.
 
Broncs by the Numbers
- Ten different Broncs recorded hits on the day, led by five from O'Donnell.
- Seven Broncs scored, with Bardatsos crossing the plate three times.
 
Up Next
The Broncs return to action Tuesday for the first round of the Liberty Bell Classic, when the Broncs host Delaware State at 3 p.m.