NEWARK, DE – The Rider University baseball team scored in the top of the ninth of a tied game, then secured the 7-6 victory over Fairleigh Dickinson Wednesday afternoon. The Broncs improve to 8-4 on the year, while the Knights fall to 5-5-1.
 
Rider opened the scoring in the first. Jack Winsett (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern Regional) led off the game with a single. Two batters later, Scott Shaw (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) doubled, putting runners on second and third. Brian Skettini (Midland Park, NJ/Ridgewood) followed with a sacrifice fly that scored Winsett.
 
The Knights got the run back with a sacrifice fly of their own in the bottom of the inning.
 
In the fifth, the Broncs once again took the lead. Jordan Erbe (Toms River, NJ/Toms River South [UMass]) led off the inning with a single. Two batters later Richie Sica (Wycoff, NJ/Ramapo) was hit by a pitch, then Winsett hit an RBI double and Sica came in to score on a groundout.
 
A three-run home run in the bottom of the inning, giving FDU back the lead at 4-3.
 
The Broncs once again took the lead in the eighth. Brian Skettini led off the inning with a walk. Luke Lesch (Gloucester Twp., NJ/Gloucester Catholic) followed with an infield single. Brendan O'Donnell (Malvern, PA/Great Valley) drew a walk to load the bases and Erbe walked to drive in a run, tying the game. Erich Hartmann (Medford, NJ/Shawnee) followed with a pinch-hit single that put Rider back on top 5-4, and the Knights traded a double-play for a run that extended the lead to 6-4.
 
In the bottom half, FDU tied the game 6-6 on a pair of unearned runs.
 
Shaw led off the top of the ninth by drawing a walk. After advancing to second on a balk, Shaw stole third and came in to score the eventual winning run on a sacrifice fly.
 
Quotes & Notes
"It was nice to get a win. That we are happy about. But to be the team we will need to be, we must improve in a variety of areas. Richmond will provide a great challenge for us this weekend." – Head Coach Dr. Barry Davis
 
- PJ Craig (Barnegat, NJ/Barnegat) got the start, going 4.1 innings and allowing three runs on four hits. He struck out three.
- Christian Aiello (Hewitt, NJ/West Milford) was the first out of the pen, tossing 1.1 innings, allowing one run on two hits. He struck out two.
- Clayton Poliey (Ringwood, NJ/Don Bosco) pitched 1.2 innings, allowing two unearned run and did not allow a hit. He struck out four.
- Danny Kirwin (Lansdale, PA/North Penn) threw the final 1.2 innings, earning the victory. He did not allow a hit and struck out four.
 
Broncs by the Numbers
- Six Broncs recorded hits in the game, led by two each from Winsett and Lesch.
- Seven different Broncs recorded runs in the game.
 
Up Next
The Broncs officially begin the spring trip with the first of a three-game set at Richmond on Friday. First pitch is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.