NEW ROCHELLE, NY – The Rider University baseball team could not find an answer for the Iona bats Saturday afternoon, falling 11-8. The Broncs are now 29-15 on the season, and 12-5 in MAAC play. The Gaels improve to 11-32 overall, and 7-10 in league play.
 
Rider fell behind early as the Gaels opened the game with four runs in the bottom of the first.
 
The Broncs finally broke through in the fourth. John Volpe (Sea Girt, NJ/Wall) reached on an error to open the inning. Scott Shaw (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) then doubled to right center to score Volpe. Socrates Bardatsos (Ridgefield, NJ/St. Joseph's Regional) then reached on an infield single, and Brian Skettini (Midland Park, NJ/Ridgewood) was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Luke Lesch (Gloucester Twp., NJ/Gloucester Catholic) hit a sacfrifice fly to score Shaw, then Brendan O'Donnell (Malvern, PA/Great Valley) doubled home Bardatsos, trimming the deficit to 4-3.
 
Iona would counter in the bottom half of the inning, scoring a pair of runs to extend the lead to 6-3.
 
Volpe led off the top of the fifth with a double down the line in left. With two outs and Volpe on third, Skettini drew a walk and Lesch singled to left center to score one and put runners on second and third. After the Gaels intentionally walked O'Donnell to face Jordan Erbe (Toms River, NJ/Toms River South[UMass]), Erbe made Iona pay with a bases-clearing double that gave Rider its first lead of the game. Jack Winsett (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern Regional) followed with a run-scoring single to put Rider in front 8-6.
 
Once again, Iona had the answer in the bottom of the inning, scoring four runs to reclaim the lead 10-8. The Gaels tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth to produce the final score.
 
Quotes & Notes
"We didn't do a lot right in the field today. Defense and pitching is the key and we didn't perform at the expected level. Iona played a great game today. We need to bounce back tomorrow and win the series." – Head Coach Dr. Barry Davis
 
- Frank Doelling (Riverside, NJ/Riverside[Rowan College at Burlington County]) got the start for the Broncs, going 3.1 innings, allowing six runs on seven hits. He struck out four.
- Clayton Poliey (Ringwood, NJ/Don Bosco Prep) was first out of the pen, throwing 1.2 innings and allowing four runs, three earned, on four hits and taking the loss for the first time in his career. He struck out two.
- Will Gallagher (Cranford, NJ/Cranford) threw the final three innings, giving up one run on three hits. He struck out four and walked none.
 
Broncs by the Numbers
- Eight different Broncs recorded a hit in the game, led by two each from Volpe, Shaw, and Lesch.
- Seven players from Rider scored in the game with Volpe crossing the plate twice.
- Rider pitchers struck out 10 and walked just three.
 
Up Next
The Broncs return to action Sunday, when the Broncs and Gaels play the rubber game of the series at noon.