PISCATAWAY, NJ– The Rider University Baseball team fell in their return to the Garden State, 8-2, to Rutgers on Tuesday afternoon. With the loss, Rider moves to 2-14, and Rutgers moves to 14-6 on the year.
Rutgers fired out the gates with six runs scored in the first three innings, with three in both the first and third frames. The Broncs' lone runs came in the top of the fourth as Rider looked to answer the early offense by the Scarlet Knights. In the fourth
Justin Costanzo (East Greenwich, N.J./Gloucester Catholic|Widener) sent a shot to left field that former Bronc
John Volpe would try and haul in at the wall but popped out of his glove, and over the fence, getting the Broncs a pair of runs on the error.
Rutgers drove a pair of runs past in the sixth to go ahead 8-2 late in the afternoon. The Broncs' pitching did end the day strong as
Gavin Hawkes (Yardley, PA/Pennsbury) and
Colby McNeely (Milmont Park, PA/The Haverford School) closed out the outing with scoreless innings in the seventh and eighth.
Quotes and Notes
"Well, we did not get enough hits, but I thought we pitched well in spots. We have a big weekend upcoming and we've seen a lot throughout the early part of the year, Improving is the key. It's a process, and a mindset we must adopt."
– Rider Baseball Head Coach Dr. Barry Davis
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Clayton Poliey got the start for Rider allowing three runs on four hits in less than an inning of work in the loss. With the loss, Policy moves to 1-2 on the year.
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Jake Dorety (Burlington, NJ/Burlington TWP), Hawkes, and McNeely all pitched scoreless innings.
Broncs by the Numbers
- Rider had four hits as Neri,
Luke Lesch (Gloucester Township, NJ/Gloucester Catholic), and
Matt Shepherd (Drexel Hill,PA/Monsignor Bonner|Rowan College of South Jersey) all recorded hits in the contest.
- Lesch moved his on-base streak to 16 games and his hit streak to 10 games
Up Next
The Broncs travel to Hamden to start MAAC play vs Quinnipiac on Friday March 22nd.
