JERSEY CITY, NJ – The Rider University baseball team continued its strong play Saturday afternoon, topping Saint Peter's, 12-5. The Broncs improve to 27-12 overall and 11-3 in MAAC play, while the Peacocks drop to 4-32 on the season and 2-12 in league play.
 
Rider jumped out to an early lead for the second-straight game. With one out in the first Scott Shaw (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) was hit by a pitch. Socrates Bardatsos (Ridgefield, NJ/St. Joseph's Regional) then doubled to left, and Brian Skettini (Midland Park, NJ/Ridgewood) got the Broncs on the board with a sacrifice fly.
 
The Broncs maintained the 1-0 lead into the fifth when Anthony Paskell (Solon, OH/Saint Ignatius) led off the inning with a solo home run. Later in the inning, Shaw reached on a bunt single. With two outs, Skettini drove a ball over the fence in left for a home run to make it 4-0.
 
The Peacocks broke through in the fifth, scoring five runs on just four hits to go ahead for the first time in the series.
 
In the seventh, Paskell led off the inning with a walk. John Volpe (Sea Girt, NJ/Wall) followed with a single to left and Shaw walked to load the bases. Bardatsos then delivered the blow, hitting a grand slam to left field, putting Rider back in front 8-5.
 
The Broncs added on in the eighth. Jordan Erbe (Toms River, NJ/Toms River South[UMass]) led off the inning with a single, then Winsett reached on an infield bunt single. Three batters later, Shaw delivered a two-run double to extend the lead to 10-5.
 
Rider added insurance runs again in the ninth. Luke Lesch (Gloucester Twp., NJ/Gloucester Catholic) hit a one out-double to center. Brendan O'Donnell (Malvern, PA/Great Valley) and Jack Winsett (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern Regional) both drew walks to load the bases with two outs and Paskell delivered a two-run single to produce the final score.
 
Quotes & Notes
- Frank Doelling (Riverside, NJ/Riverside[Rowan College at Burlington County]) got the start for the Broncs, going 5.1 innings, allowing five runs, three earned on six hits. He struck out two.
- Alec Sachais (Egg Harbor Twp., NJ/Holy Spirit) tossed 0.2 scoreless innings allowing two hits and striking out one to earn the win.
- Danny Kirwin (Lansdale, PA/North Penn) came on to fire the final three innings, allowing no runs and no hits, while striking out seven to record his MAAC-leading tenth save of the season.
 
Broncs by the Numbers
- Eight different Broncs recorded a hit in the game, led by three from Skettini.
- Seven players from Rider scored in the game with Shaw crossing the plate three times.
- Paskell's home run is the first of his collegiate career.
- Skettini's home run is his fourth of the season.
- Bardatsos' home run is his second of the year.
 
Up Next
The Broncs return to action Sunday, when the Broncs and Peacocks close out the series at 1 p.m.