POMONA, NY – The Rider University baseball team had the tying run at the plate in the top of the ninth, but ultimately fell 12-8 at Manhattan Thursday afternoon. The Broncs fall to 31-17 on the season, and 13-6 in MAAC play. The Jaspers get one step closer to clinching a spot in the MAAC Tournament, improving to 20-31 overall and 12-10 in league play.
 
The Broncs opened the scoring in the first. John Volpe (Sea Girt, NJ/Wall) singled to center to lead off the game. Scott Shaw (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) followed with a single to center of his own. After both runners advanced 90 feet on a fly out, Luke Lesch (Gloucester Twp., NJ/Gloucester Catholic) pulled a 3-1 pitch to right to score a run.
 
The Jaspers scored two in the first, two in the second, and one in the third to take a 5-1 lead.
 
With one out in the fourth, Jordan Erbe (Toms River, NJ/Toms River South[UMass]) hit a single to left. With two outs, Volpe reached on an error. Shaw and Brian Skettini (Midland Park, NJ/Ridgewood) hit back-to-back RBI singles, then Lesch reached on an error that allowed Shaw to score, trimming the deficit to 5-4.
 
Once again the Jaspers responded, scoring two in the bottom of the fourth.
 
Brendan O'Donnell (Malvern, PA/Great Valley) drew a walk to lead off the fifth. Jack Winsett (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern Regional) then reached on an error. Erbe then sliced a double into the bullpen down the right field line to score O'Donnell. Winsett came in to score on a ground out by Richie Sica (Wycoff, NJ/Ramapo) later in the inning, cutting the Jaspers' lead to 7-6.
 
Manhattan broke the game open with four in the sixth and one in the seventh.
 
In the eighth, Shaw reached on an error with one out. Skettini then doubled to put runners on second and third. After Lesch drove in a run with a sacrifice fly, Socrates Bardatsos (Ridgefield, NJ/St. Joseph's Regional) hit a ball off the wall in left for an RBI double to make the score 12-8.
 
In the ninth, the Broncs loaded the bases with one out to bring the tying run to the plate, but a strike out and a fielder's choice closed out the contest.
 
Quotes & Notes
"Pitching and defense are the key to winning most game, and today we didn't do either." - Head Coach Dr. Barry Davis

- Dylan Heine (Haddonfield, NJ/Haddonfield) got the start, going 1.2 innings and allowing four runs, one earned, on five hits. He struck out two, taking the loss.
- Christian Aiello (Hewitt, NJ/West Milford) tossed 2.1 innings. He allowed three runs on three hits. He struck out one.
- Alec Sachais (Egg Harbor Twp., NJ/Holy Spirit) threw 0.2 innings, giving up no runs on two hits, striking out one.
- Will Gallagher (Cranford, NJ/Cranford) finished off the final 3.1 innings, allowing five runs on six hits, striking out one.
- Volpe reached base safely for the 14^th-straight game
 
Broncs by the Numbers
- Seven different Rider players recorded a hit in the game, led by two each from Volpe, Shaw, Skettini, and Erbe.
- Six Broncs recorded RBIs with Lesch chipping in a pair.
- Rider drew six walks in the game.
 
Up Next
The Broncs return to action Friday, when the Broncs and Jaspers conclude the regular season with a double header on the campus of SUNY Purchase beginning at 10 a.m.