POMONA, NY – The Rider University baseball team made a statement in its opening game of the MAAC Tournament, topping Quinnipiac University, 8-0, Thursday afternoon. The Broncs remain in the winner's bracket and improve to 33-18 on the season. The Bobcats will now face elimination for the remainder of the tournament, dropping to 29-25 on the year.
 
Rider jumped out to an early lead. Scott Shaw (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) singled with one out in the first. Brian Skettini (Midland Park, NJ/Ridgewood) followed with a single of his own, then Luke Lesch (Gloucester Twp., NJ/Gloucester Catholic) walked to load the bases. Brendan O'Donnell (Malvern, PA/Great Valley) got the job done with a sacrifice fly that put Rider up 1-0.
 
John Volpe (Sea Girt, NJ/Wall) led off the third with a single through the left side. Shaw then drew a seven-pitch walk. Two batters later, Lesch singled through the right side to extend the lead to 2-0.
 
In the fourth, Jordan Erbe (Toms River, NJ/Toms River South[UMass]) reached on an error with one out. With two away, Volpe and Shaw hit back-to-back singles to plate Erbe and stretch the lead to 3-0.
 
Lesch wasted no time adding on a run in the fifth, turning the second pitch of the inning and crushing it two-thirds of the way up the right-field foul pole.
 
The Broncs put the game out of reach in the eighth, Socrates Bardatsos (Ridgefield, NJ/St. Joseph's Regional) reached on an error to lead off the inning. After a sacrifice bunt moved pinch runner Will Gallagher (Cranford, NJ/Cranford) into scoring position and a wild pitch advanced him another 90 feet, Erbe singled through the left side to plate Gallagher. Volpe reached on a two-out error to extend the inning and a walk by Shaw loaded the bases for Skettini, who unloaded the bases with a three-run double to the gap in right center, producing the final score.
 
Quotes & Notes
"We got a well-pitched game out of Frank. We were able to push some runs across, and Luke hit the home run to put us up four and it puts you in a situation where at worst they can only tie you with one swing, they can't take the lead."
 
"We made some great defensive plays. Volpe was outstanding, and Erich Hartmann made an amazing catch out in right field."
 
"Fairfield's won the regular season the last three years, but every time we play, it's always a battle, and we're going to have to bring our A-Game." – Head Coach Dr. Barry Davis
 
"We knew they were coming in with a lot of momentum after playing Niagara that well yesterday. As a fifth-year senior getting the ball game one, I just wanted to come in here and set the tone. Being able to go seven was huge for us."
 
"Any time you get run support, it's massive. It allows you to go out and attack hitters with your best stuff. When it's 1-0 or 0-0, there's a lot of pressure to be perfect" – Graduate Pitcher Frank Doelling


- Frank Doelling (Riverside, NJ/Riverside [Rowan College at Burlington County]) got the start, spinning an absolute gem, going seven shutout innings, allowing just four hits. He struck out four and walked just one to earn the win.
- Clayton Poliey (Ringwood, NJ/Don Bosco Prep) came out of the pen and fired the final two innings. He allowed just one hit and struck out two, while walking none.
- Volpe extended his reached-base streak to 17-straight games.
- Doelling has pitched 12.2 innings against Quinnipiac this season, allowing just one run and striking out nine.
 
Broncs by the Numbers
- Six different Rider players recorded a hit on the day, led by two each from Volpe, Shaw, Skettini, and Lesch.
- Five Broncs recorded RBIs with Skettini's three leading the way.
- Lesch's home run is his seventh of the season.
 
Up Next
The Broncs advance in the winner's bracket and will now face top-seeded Fairfield at 11 a.m. on Friday with the winner advancing to the MAAC Championship game.