BALTIMORE, MD – The Rider University baseball team secured their first win of the 2024 season taking down UMBC 2-0 on Friday afternoon. With the win, Rider moves to 1-6 and UMBC to 0-5 on the young season.
The Broncs were led by a stellar start from
PJ Craig (Barnegat, NJ/Barnegat), going seven scoreless innings. Craig also struck out four batters and allowed only three hits in the process, capping off his best start of the campaign.
The Broncs' offense struggled through the first few innings leaving runners, however the Broncs' bats came alive late when in the eighth inning
Brian Skettini (Midland Park, NJ Ridgewood) and
Luke Lesch (Gloucester Township, NJ Gloucester Catholic) both drove in runs with back-to-back RBI doubles to give Rider a 2-0 lead in the top of the inning.
With two on an one out in the eighth, the Broncs turned to Sophomore
Clayton Poliey (Ringwood, NJ/ Don Bosco) to close things out. Poiley loaded the bases, but got out of the jam with back-to-back strikeouts. He then allowed just one runner in the ninth to record his first save of the season.
Quotes & Notes
"It was a great effort today, PJ was magnificent tossing seven scoreless innings. We had big hits by Skettini and Lesch. Poliey was solid in getting the save, and we played solid defensively." – Rider Baseball Head Coach
Dr. Barry Davis- Craig went a season-best seven scoreless innings in the start picking up his first win of the season.
-
Chris Montone (Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown) faced three batters in the eighth, recording an out without allowing a run.
- Poliey scored his first save of the year tossing 1.2 scoreless innings in relief.
- Skettini and Lesch both recorded RBIs in the win.
Broncs by the Numbers
- Rider had seven hits in the contest with Lesch, Skettini,
Anthony Paskell (Solon, OH Saint Ignatius)
Jack Winsett (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern Regional)
Kyle Neri (Williamstown, N.J./St. Augustine Prep|Bryant) and
Erich Hartmann (Medford, NJ/Shawnee) all registering hits.
- Lesch recorded his first multi-hit game of the season.
- Lesch and
Jack Winsett (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern Regional) moved their on-base streaks with both reaching base in each of the last six games played
Up Next
The Broncs will battle former MAAC foe Monmouth tomorrow at 12:00 PM
