PURCHASE, NY – The Rider University baseball team got a needed double-header split to close out the regular season at Manhattan Friday. The Jaspers took game one, 5-1, before the Broncs fought back to win game two, 7-0. The Broncs end the regular season 32-18 overall and 14-7 in league play. The Jaspers finish the regular season 21-32 overall and 13-11 in MAAC games. The Broncs secure the two seed in the upcoming MAAC Tournament, with the Jaspers securing a top six spot and place in the Tournament, which begins Wednesday.
 
Manhattan had control of game one throughout. The Jaspers scored two in the third, one in the fifth, and two in the sixth to build a 5-0 lead, while the Broncs had no hits and just a single base runner.
 
Scott Shaw (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) broke up the no-hitter in the top of the seventh, beating out an infield single. In the eighth, Jack Winsett (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern Regional) drew a one-out walk. Two batters later, Richie Sica (Wycoff, NJ/Ramapo) singled to right to put runners on the corners with two away. John Volpe (Sea Girt, NJ/Wall) singled to left to get the Broncs on the board, but Rider would get no closer.
 
Game two was a pitcher's duel early.
 
Rider finally broke through in the sixth. Luke Lesch (Gloucester Twp., NJ/Gloucester Catholic), Brendan O'Donnell (Malvern, PA/Great Valley), and Socrates Bardatsos (Ridgefield, NJ/St. Joseph's Regional) drew back-to-back-to-back walks with two outs. Winsett then hit a chopper and beat the throw for an infield single to score Lesch. O'Donnell never stopped around third and forced a bad throw to the plate by the first baseman to put Rider up 2-0. Jordan Erbe (Toms River, NJ/Toms River South[UMass]) doubled to right center to bring in two more and the Broncs led 4-0 after six.
 
In the seventh, Volpe singled to center to lead off the inning. Shaw then turned on the first pitch he saw sending it over the fence in right. Originally called foul, the umpires conferenced and said the ball did leave the park in fair territory for a two-run home run. Brian Skettini (Midland Park, NJ/Ridgewood) continued the inning with a double, coming in to score on two productive outs, producing the final score.
 
Quotes & Notes
- Frank Doelling (Riverside, NJ/Riverside [Rowan College at Burlington County]) got the start in game one, allowing three runs, two earned, on eight hits in five innings. He struck out four, taking the loss.
- Clayton Poliey (Ringwood, NJ/Don Bosco Prep) fired the final 3.1 innings of game one, giving up two runs on just one hit. He struck out two.
- Brian Young (Neptune, NJ/Communication) sterted game two, and spun a gem, going six shutout innings and allowing just three hits. He struck out five and walked none to earn the win.
- Danny Kirwin (Lansdale, PA/North Penn) came in for the final three innings, allowing no runs on two hits. He struck out seven to earn his MAAC-leading 13^th save.
- Volpe extended his reached-base streak to 16-straight games.
 
Broncs by the Numbers
- Seven different Rider players recorded a hit on the day, led by three from Volpe.
- Five Broncs recorded RBIs with Shaw and Erbe chipping in a pair.
- Shaw's home run is his fifth of the season.
 
Up Next
The Broncs advance to the MAAC Tournament, where they have secured the number two seed and a first-round bye in the tournament. Check GoBroncs.com for more information when the bracket is officially released.