LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ- Joe Tiroly (Yardley, PA/Pennsbury) had a pair of home runs as the Rider University Baseball team defeated Manhattan 8-2 on Thursday afternoon. With the win the Broncs move to 26-20 and 17-5 in the MAAC dropping Manhattan 21-28 and 9-13 in the conference. 

The Jaspers started the game strong driving in a run in the bottom of the first however the Broncs found a quick answer with the big bat of Trioly. In the top of the second, the Broncs' second basemen launched his first home run of the day to left tying the game at one. The Broncs went on to load the bases in the frame, scoring another run to take the lead off a walk from Jack Winsett (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern) scoring Erich Hartmann (Medford, NJ/Shawnee) to go up 2-1 after two.

In the third, Luke Lesch (Gloucester, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) continued his climb up the all-time hits leaderboard, securing his 210th career hit with a lead-off double, moving him into 8th all-time in program history. One batter later, the Broncs brought home Lesch on an error by the Jasper's second baseman moving the lead to two.

In the top of the fifth, the Broncs put together their strongest inning offensively, tallying three runs in the frame. The Broncs loaded the bases to start the inning and following a two-run base hit from Matt Shepherd (Drexel Hill,PA/Monsignor Bonner/Rowan College of South Jersey) the Broncs moved their lead to 5-1. After a base hit from Kyle Neri (Williamstown, N.J./St. Augustine Prep/Bryant), Hartmann brought in the final run of the inning scoring Shepherd on a base hit into right field. 

In the sixth, The Broncs earned a pair of walks to lead off from Winsett and Brian Skettini (Midland Park, NJ/Ridgewood). After a Lesch sacrifice bunt, Winsett scored on a wild pitch to go up 7-1.

PJ Craig (Barnegat, NJ/Barnegat) wrapped up a strong performance, going six innings allowing only one run on two hits with three strikeouts. Gavin Hawkes (Yardley, PA/Pennsbury) and Christian Coombes (Ontario, Canada/Parkside Collegiate Institute/Saint Peters) worked in replacement out of the pen in the next two frames with both throwing scoreless innings to help Rider hold their lead.

In the eighth, Tiroly struck again with an opposite-field homer for his team-leading ninth of the year. The Jaspers did answer with a home run of their own in the bottom of the ninth however the Broncs took the opening game 8-2. 

-"Pretty solid effort today, PJ was good he walked the first two guys but was able to pick it up after that. We got a big day out of Tiroly which was good, but I felt our pitching and defense were the difference today. We left enough on base, we could've scored more. Out bullpen was good those three guys came in and I thought it was a solid effort and tomorrow we gotta go out and get game two"- Rider Head Coach Dr Barry Davis

- Craig got the win going six innings allowing only one run on two hits with three strikeouts. 

- Hawkes, Coombes, and Colby McNeely (Milmont Park, PA/ The Haverford School) all pitched an inning in relief.

- Rider had 14 hits on the day with Winsett, Lesch, Tiroly, Shepherd, Neri, Hartmann, Anthony Paskell (Solon, OH/Saint Ignatius), Matt Leahy (Woolwich, NJ/Gloucester Catholic), and Justin Costanzo (East Greenwich, N.J/Gloucester Catholic/Widener) all recording a hit.

- Tiroly and Winsett move their on-base streaks to 18 straight.

- Tiroly picked up his team-best 14 multi-RBI game after going 2-for-5 with two homers three RBIs.

- Lesch moves his on-base streak to 45 straight games and his hit streak to 13 straight. 

- Lesch captured his 210th career hit moving him into sole possession of 8th all-time in program history.

The Broncs continue the series with Manhattan tomorrow 5/17/24 at 12 PM.