LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – The Rider University baseball team swept a double header Sunday, topping Canisius, 2-1 and 8-6, to secure the series victory over the Golden Griffins. The Broncs are now 24-11 overall and 9-3 in MAAC games, while the Golden Griffins fall to 13-17 on the year and 7-2 in MAAC play.
 
Rider got on the board first in game one. Socrates Bardatsos (Ridgefield, NJ/St. Joseph's Regional) led off the fourth inning with a single. With two outs, Matt Shepherd doubled just inside the third base bag, scoring Bardatsos and putting the Broncs on top.
 
Canisius tied the game in the top of the fifth without the benefit of a hit.
 
The Broncs came through for good in the seventh.  
 
Jack Winsett (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern Regional) drew a two-out walk. After Jordan Erbe (Toms River, NJ/Toms River South[UMass]) walked, Erich Hartmann (Medford, NJ/Shawnee) hit a pinch-hit double to drive in the eventual game-winning run.
 
Rider jumped out to a large lead early in game two. John Volpe (Sea Girt, NJ/Wall) led off the bottom of the first with a single. After Brian Skettini (Midland Park, NJ/Ridgewood) and Luke Lesch (Gloucester Twp., NJ/Gloucester Catholic) walked to load the bases with one out, Brendan O'Donnell (Malvern, PA/Great Valley) hit a high fly ball that cleared the fence in right for a grand slam.
 
In the fourth, Canisius got a run back, but the Broncs would answer in the bottom half. Richie Sica (Wycoff, NJ/Ramapo) hit a one-out single. After moving to second, then third on a pair of wild pitches, he came in to score on a base hit by Volpe.
 
The Golden Griffins scored twice in the top of the fifth to trim the Rider lead to 5-3, but Rider had an immediate answer once again. Lesch led off the bottom of the fifth with a walk. Back-to-back singles by O'Donnell, then Bardatsos, scored Lesch. A sacrifice fly by Winsett extended the lead back to 7-3.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, O'Donnell singled to start the inning. A pair of wild pitches sandwiching a ground out that O'Donnell advanced on, brought the senior in to score and extend the lead to 8-3.
 
Two runs in the top of the eighth and one in the top of the ninth, brought the leading run to the plate for Canisius, but a loud fly ball was caught in right field by Shaw to end the game.
 
Quotes & Notes
"The result was good, but the process of getting there wasn't. We had opportunities to blow the games up and we didn't. But in game one, we bring in Kirwin hoping he can keep it at one and he did, and that you can scratch across a run, and we did."
 
"We didn't throw enough strikes. With a five run lead, we let a ball get by when we had no business doing so. That ball goes a little bit further, and we aren't here talking about winning the game." – Head Coach Dr. Barry Davis
 
"Runner on third less than two outs, I'm just looking for something to drive. Winning the series is huge. That puts you one step ahead of that team. Really, you just need to take it game by game and not try to focus on the next one and really be in the moment." – Senior Outfielder Brendan O'Donnell
 
"It really just takes the pressure off when you get an early lead. I just trust my talent and say, 'there's my best stuff and try to hit it'. You got a bunch of guys behind you that are making plays, and the outcome could have been different without them." – Sophomore Pitcher Brian Young
 
- Rider has won eight of its nine 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 two hits in five innings. He struck out five, but took a no decision.
- Clayton Poliey (Ringwood, NJ/Don Bosco Prep) tossed a no-hit inning, striking out one.
- Danny Kirwin (Lansdale, PA/North Penn) tossed the final three innings of game one, giving up no runs on no hits to earn the win, his fifth of the season. He struck out four.
- Brian Young (Neptune, NJ/Communication) started game two, throwing seven innings, allowing three runs, two earned, on eight hits and earning the win. He struck out seven and walked none.
- Christian Aiello (Hewitt, NJ/West Milford) threw 0.1 innings, giving up two unearned runs on two hits.
- Alec Sachais (Egg Harbor Twp., NJ/Holy Spirit) tossed the final 1.2 innings, allowing one run on two hits. He struck out two and got his second save of the year.
 
Broncs by the Numbers
- Nine different Broncs recorded hits on the day, led by four from O'Donnell.
- Seven Broncs scored, with O'Donnell crossing the plate three times.
- O'Donnell's home run is his 11^th of the season and 31^st of his career.
 
Up Next
The Broncs return to action Tuesday for the championship game of the Liberty Bell Classic, when the Broncs take on Delaware at Citizen's Bank Park at 7 p.m.