HAMDEN, CT– The Rider University Baseball team swept their MAAC opening series vs Quinnipiac taking the finale 11-1 in Hamden. With the win, Rider starts MAAC play at 3-0 and moves to 5-14 on the year and Quinnipiac moves to 5-15 and 0-3 in the MAAC.
The Broncs offense continued their impressive series straight out of the gates as Brian Skettini (Midland Park, NJ/Ridgewood) got his team-leading 13th RBI of the year, driving in Matt Shepherd (Drexel Hill, PA/Monsignor Bonner|Rowan College of South Jersey) to go ahead 1-0 after the first. In the second inning, the Broncs' big bats returned as Kyle Neri (Williamstown, N.J./St. Augustine Prep|Bryant) extended the lead for Rider, tallying the team's fourth homer of the series. Neri went yard for the third time this year sending a blast to left field to put the Broncs up 2-0 after the second.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Bobcats would see their only run of the contest come aboard thanks to an RBI double from Kyle Garbowski to cut the lead to one. The Broncs responded in a big way plating five runs of their own in the top of the fifth. The frame kicked off with Matt Leahy (Woolwich, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) reaching on a base hit and then stealing second to get into scoring position. Moments later Jack Winsett (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern Regional) powered a base hit up the middle scoring Leahy for the first of five runs in the inning.
Luke Lesch (Gloucester Township, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) added to his stellar start to the campaign with a two-run double extending the Broncs' lead to four. The Broncs' massive inning was capped off by Neri again exploding at the plate, however keeping things in the yard scoring an RBI triple to go ahead 7-1.
Brian Young (Neptune, NJ/Communication High School) wrapped up his day after the fifth allowing on one run on five hits, while also picking up a season-high and tying a career-high in strikeouts with seven. The Broncs then turned to Jake Dorety (Burlington, NJ/Burlington TWP) who pitched three scoreless innings in relief for Rider.
Rider's offense continued to let it pour in the late stages scoring runs in the sixth, seventh, and ninth to wrap things up 11-1, as the Broncs captured a MAAC series opening sweep of Quinnipiac.
Quotes and Notes
"A great start for us.
Brian Young gave us a solid five after throwing on Friday.
Jake Dorety was good again and
Christian Coombes closed it out. Offensively we put the ball in play. Solid ABs throughout. A good start for us in the league." –
Rider Baseball Head Coach Dr. Barry Davis
- Young got the win by pitching five innings, allowing only one run with a season-high seven strikeouts. Young moves to 2-3 on the year with wins in back-to-back appearances.
- Dorety and Christian Coombes (Ontario, Canada/Parkside Collegiate Institute|Saint Peters) combined for four scoreless innings in relief.
Broncs by the Numbers
- Rider had 14 hits in the win with every member of the starting lineup getting a hit in the contest.
- Neri, Winsett, Skettini, Lesch, Leahy, and Joe Tiroly (Yardley, PA/Pennsbury) all recorded RBIs.
- Neri finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs, a home run, and a triple.
- Lesch moved his on-base streak to 19 games and his hit streak to 13 games
- Justin Costanzo (East Greenwich, N.J/ Gloucester Catholic) and Skettini both continued their on-base streaks with Costanzo at 13 and Skettini at 12.
- Rider combined for 33 runs on 37 hits in the series vs the Bobcats.
Up Next
The Broncs get set for their home opener in a midweek matchup with Villanova on Tuesday, March 26th.
