April 26th-28th, 2024 at 3:00 p.m./1:00 p.m/12:00 p.m.
Rider Broncs (20-16, 11-1 MAAC) vs. Niagara Purple Eagles (24-11, 11-1 MAAC)
Location: Lawrenceville, NJ (Sonny Pittaro Field)
Live Stats:– GoBroncs.com
WATCH- ESPN+ (G1), ESPN+ (G2), ESPN+ (G3)
Twitter: @RiderUBaseball

What You Need To Know
- The 2023 MAAC Champion Rider Broncs get set for a massive conference tilt as they host Niagara in a battle between the two top teams in the MAAC.

About the Broncs
- Rider returns four offensive starters from a season ago, led by 2023 2nd Team All-MAAC selection Brian Skettini (Midland Park, NJ/Ridgewood) who hit a team-high .313 last season with 67 hits, 46 runs, and 49 RBIs.The Broncs also return a pair of stellar performers from their impressive run to the Conway regional as NCAA Tournament All-Conway Regional Team selection Jack Winsett (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern) and Right Fielder Erich Hartmann (Medford, NJ/ Shawnee) both return after strong seasons in '23. The final returner offensively is 2023 MAAC All-Tournament Team selection Luke Lesch  (Gloucester, NJ/ Gloucester Catholic) who started 57 games a year ago while also having 18 multi-hit games, including three multi-hit games and a pair of home runs in the MAAC Tournament.
- The Broncs pitching staff is highlighted by Junior LHP Brian Young (Neptune, NJ/Communication). Young was stellar down the stretch as in his final three starts he went 19.2 innings with 14 strikeouts and a 1.41 ERA, including 7.1 innings and four strikeouts vs Fairfield in the MAAC Tournament being named to the MAAC All-Tournament Team. Rider will also see a combination of young arms see action including Sophomores PJ Craig (Barnegat, NJ/ Barnegat), Clayton Poliey (Ringwood, NJ/Don Bosco Prep), Gavin Hawkes (Yardley, PA/Pennsbury), Christian Aiello (Hewitt, NJ/West Milford), and Freshman Jake Dorety (Burlington, NJ/Burlington TWP).
- Rider leads the country with a .983 fielding percentage.
- The Broncs have also turned the second most double plays in the MAAC this season. 
- Lesch currently leads the MAAC in doubles with 13.
- Winsett leads the MAAC in walks with 38 on the season. 
- Poliey leads the MAAC with a ERA of 3.92.


Back in the MAAC
- The Rider University baseball team earned a single first-place vote and was selected fourth ahead of the 2024 season in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Baseball Preseason Coaches' Poll. Young was the lone Bronc to earn Preseason All-MAAC Team honors.
- Rider is coming off one of their best seasons in program history. Rider played in a regional for the 15th time in program history, and Rider's 36 wins matched the 2010 team for most wins in program history.
- Rider also won their fourth MAAC Championship, all under Head Coach Dr. Barry Davis, and reached their ninth appearance in the MAAC Championship Game. 
- Young was named the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Pitcher of the Week on Tuesday 3/26/24 following a pair of strong showings in Rider's series sweep over Quinnipiac. 
- Redshirt freshman outfielder Kyle Neri (Williamstown, N.J./St. Augustine Prep|Bryant) was named MAAC Rookie of the Week on Tuesday 4/23/24. Neri was huge for the Broncs in the four matchups last week batting .429 with a a pair of homers and six RBIs on the week. Neri started his week with a massive outing vs local foe Princeton where the first-year Bronc would finish a triple shy of the cycle in a 3-for-5 outing with a career-high five RBIs on the day.  Neri brought that success into the weekend series vs Maine batting .333 on the set with an on-base percentage of .571 vs the Black Bears being walked five times on the three-game series.

Home Cooking
- Rider currently holds an undefeated 8-0 mark at "The Pitt" in 2024.
- At home Rider is batting a combined .302 outscoring opponents 75-35.
- Rider is averaging 9.4 runs per game at home this season.

Young Broncs
- Rider has seen three first-year players make massive impacts with Neri, Joe Tiroly (Yardley, PA/Pennsbury), and Matt Leahy (Woolwich, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) all contributing big.
- Neri is currently tied for the team lead in home runs with six and has homered in back-to-back matchups for the Broncs.
- Tiroly and Leahy have been mainstays in the middle infield with the duo starting 29 games together on the season. Leahy currently sits third on the team with a .283 average and Tiroly has brought some massive pop to the order with five home runs and 27 RBIs.

Last Time Out
-The Rider University baseball team secured their fifth-straight win, taking down Seton Hall 5-4 on Tuesday afternoon. With the win, Rider moves to 20-16 on the year and Seton Hall falls to 19-21 on the 2024 season.
- Rider had eight hits with Neri, Tiroly, Lesch, Nick Shuhet (Mountain Lakes, NJ/Mountain Lakes), and AJ Labrusciano (Fredericksburg, VA/North Stafford) all getting a hit on the day.
- Neri picked up his sixth home run of the year, tying the team lead.
- Lesch has reached in all 36 games played this year, capturing his 200th career hit in the win.

History vs Niagara
- Rider holds a 47-24 lead in the all-time series vs Niagara
- The Broncs won all three matchups last year in Lawrenceville by a combined total of 31-10. Rider went on to win the final matchup of the weekend 13-3 in seven innings. 

About Niagara 
- Niagara suffered its first MAAC loss of the season on Sunday as the Purple Eagles fell 5-0 to the Siena Saints.
- Niagara still won the weekend series, they have won four MAAC weekends this season and seven total series' this season.
- Eric Rataczak lead the Purple Eagles in batting average with .423 avg with also leads the MAAC. Rataczak also leads the team with 10 HRs and 46 RBIs.
- The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) announced the midseason watch list for the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award. Niagara relief pitcher Zach Cameron has been named to the list. Cameron is the first Purple Eagle to be named to the watch list since Tyler Addison was named to the list in 2006. Cameron is currently leading the MAAC in saves while being tied for the MAAC lead in wins. Cameron has eight saves this season, his eight saves are tied for fifth in Division I.

About The Doc
- Returning for his 20th season is Head Coach Dr. Barry Davis. During his tenure, Davis has transformed the program into a consistent contender in the Metro-Atlantic Conference (MAAC), winning four conference tournament championships, two regular-season championships, and qualifying for twelve conference tournaments. Davis owns a 1046 –709  career record, picking up his 1000th win last season over Richmond on March 11. 
- Last year, Rider won their fourth MAAC Championship, all under Head Coach Dr. Barry Davis, and reached their ninth appearance in the MAAC Championship Game.