LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – The Rider University baseball team could not come out on top of a back-and-forth game Tuesday afternoon, falling to NJIT, 7-6. The Broncs drop to 22-10 with the loss, while the Highlanders improve to 10-19.
 
John Volpe (Sea Girt, NJ/Wall) led off the bottom of the first with a base hit for the Broncs. Scott Shaw (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) then hit a fly ball that was carried by the wind to the gap in the right center for a double. Brian Skettini (Midland Park, NJ/Ridgewood) then drove in Volpe on a groundout to second and Luke Lesch (Gloucester Twp., NJ/Gloucester Catholic) followed with an RBI single to make it 2-0.
 
In the top of the third, NJIT used a pair of home runs to plate three runs, taking the lead for the first time in the game.
 
Rider would immediately respond in the bottom of the third. Brendan O'Donnell (Malvern, PA/Great Valley) drew a one-out walk, then Socrates Bardatsos (Ridgefield, NJ/St. Joseph's Regional) hit a double that dropped in down the line in left. Jack Winsett (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern Regional) then hit a chopper to third and O'Donnell was caught in a rundown, but a throwing error during the rundown allowed O'Donnell to come in to score and tie the game. Richie Sica (Wycoff, NJ/Ramapo) put the Broncs back on top with a sacrifice fly.
 
The Broncs tacked on another run in the fourth. Skettini reached on an error, moving up to second on the play. Lesch delivered once again with a run-scoring single.
 
NJIT scored a pair of runs in the sixth, tying the game 5-5. The Highlanders then took the lead with two more runs in the seventh.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, Skettini led off the inning with a walk. After advancing to second on a passed ball and third on a ground out, he came in to score on a wild pitch.
 
Quotes & Notes
"I'm motivated every time I come out here to try to compete to win. We had ten walks, hit three guys, and when you do that you're not going to win. It's unfortunate to lose when you're playing well."
 
"We need more consistency out of our pitchers and we didn't get that today. You have to take the failure and learn from it, because if you don't you're not going to get any better." – Head Coach Dr. Barry Davis
 
- PJ Craig (Barnegat, NJ/Barnegat) got the start for the Broncs, going 2+ innings, allowing three runs on four hits. He struck out one.
- Kenny Quijano (Teaneck, NJ/St. Mary's) made his 2023 debut, returning from injury. He threw 2.0 scoreless innings. He allowed one hit and struck out a pair.
- Gavin Hawkes (Yardley, PA/Pennsbury) threw 1.1 innings, allowing two runs on one hit.
- Colby McNeely (Milmont Park, PA/The Haverford School) threw 0.1 innings, allowing no runs on no hits.
- Christian Aiello (Hewitt, NJ/West Milford) tossed 1.0 innings, allowing two runs on no hits. He struck out two, but took the loss.
- Clayton Poliey (Ringwood, NJ/Don Bosco Prep) fired 1.1 scoreless innings, allowing one hit and striking out two.
- Danny Kirwin (Lansdale, PA/North Penn) fired the final inning, allowing no runs on no hits. He struck out two.
- Winsett recorded his 100^th career hit in the contest.
 
Broncs by the Numbers
- Six different Broncs recorded hits on the day, led by three from Bardatsos.
- Five separate Broncs scored for Rider, led by Skettini who scored twice.
- Rider pitchers combined for ten walks and three hit batters in the game.
 
Up Next
The Broncs return to conference play Friday when first-place Canisius comes to Sonny Pittaro Field. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.