JERSEY CITY, NJ – The Rider University baseball team could not complete the series sweep of Saint Peter's, falling 6-5 Sunday afternoon. The Broncs fall to 27-13 overall and 11-4 in MAAC play. The Peacocks improve to 5-32 on the season, and 3-12 in league games.
 
For the first time in the series, the Peacocks got on the board first, scoring on a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning.
 
Rider responded in the second. Luke Lesch (Gloucester Twp., NJ/Gloucester Catholic) hit a one-out single to right. Brendan O'Donnell (Malvern, PA/Great Valley) then doubled to center and Jordan Erbe (Toms River, NJ/Toms River South[UMass]) hit an RBI-ground out to tie the game, 1-1.
 
In the third, Saint Peter's scored a pair of runs with two outs. The Broncs fired back in the top of the fourth. O'Donnell hit a one-out single, then stole second with two away. He came in to score on a single by Jack Winsett (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern Regional). The Peacocks answered in the bottom of the inning with an unearned run.
 
John Volpe (Sea Girt, NJ/Wall) led off the fifth with a single, then Scott Shaw (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) drew a walk. Both runners moved up 90 feet on a wild pitch, and with one out Brian Skettini (Midland Park, NJ/Ridgewood) plated two with a single back up the middle, tying the game, 4-4.
 
It was a pair of unearned runs by the Peacocks in the bottom of the fifth that gave Saint Peter's the lead once again.
 
With one out in the sixth, Winsett drew a walk. Two batters later, Volpe tripled to right field, scoring Winsett.
 
The Broncs had their best opportunity in the top of the seventh. Skettini singled, then Lesch and O'Donnell drew back-to-back walks to load the bases with one out. Saint Peter's would induce a double play to get out of the inning without allowing a run and the Broncs would never truly threaten again.
 
Quotes & Notes
"We had too many missed opportunities. Saint Peter's played better." – Head Coach Dr. Barry Davis
 
- Rider has won nine of 10 weekend series this season.
- Brian Young (Neptune, NJ/Communication) started on the mound for the Broncs, going 5.2 innings, allowing six runs, three earned, on 10 hits. He struck out two and took the loss.
- Clayton Poliey (Ringwood, NJ/Don Bosco Prep) threw the final 2.1 innings, allowing no runs on no hits. He struck out three.
 
Broncs by the Numbers
- Six different Broncs recorded a hit in the game, led by two each from Volpe, Skettini, and O'Donnell.
- Skettini led Rider with a pair of RBIs.
 
Up Next
The Broncs return to action Tuesday, when the Broncs host Seton Hall at 3 p.m.