LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – The Rider baseball team couldn't hold off Quinnipiac's explosive ninth-inning rally, falling 12-6 in the second game of their series on Saturday afternoon at Sonny Pittaro Field.
Quinnipiac took an early 1-0 lead with a Chris Smith RBI single to center field.
Rider responded with a powerful swing from
Griffin Puvel, who blasted a three-run homer over the left-field wall to put the Broncs ahead 3-1. An error by Quinnipiac's center fielder on a ball hit by
Erich Hartmann allowed another run to score, extending Rider's lead to 4-1.
The Bobcats chipped away at the lead, scoring a single run in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings to tie the game at 4-4.
In the bottom of the seventh, Rider regained the lead with clutch hits from
Matt Leahy and
Griffin Puvel, driving in two runs to make it 6-4.
However, Quinnipiac's offense erupted at the top of the ninth inning. Johnny Knox led off with a double, igniting an eight-run rally that put the Bobcats ahead 12-6.
Despite hits from
Joe Tiroly and
Kyle Neri in the bottom of the ninth, the Broncs left three runners on base as Quinnipiac closed out the game to secure the win and clinch the series.
Quotes and Notes
"We did a lot well today. We played solid baseball for 8 innings, and credit to Quinnipiac, they never went away and battled us all day. I am looking forward to seeing how we respond tomorrow"
– Interim Head Coach Lee Lipinski
- Puvel picked up his third home run of the 2025 season.
- Quinnipiac had 15 hits to the Broncs' 12 hits.
- The Bobcats move to 5-0 in the MAAC while Rider drops to 3-2 in the conference.
Broncs by the Numbers
- The Broncs racked up 12 hits during game two with
Matt Leahy and
Will Gallagher each recording one hit.
- Tiroly, Neri, Crespo, Shuhet, and Puvel each recorded two hits.
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Griffin Puvel led the team with four RBIs.
- Leahy tacked on one RBI.
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Brian Young started the game for the Broncs, pitching 5.1 innings, allowing nine hits, three earned runs, and seven strikeouts.
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Jake Dorety pitched 3.0 innings, allowing two hits and two earned runs and recording a strikeout.
Up Next
The Broncs return to action tomorrow, Mar. 16, to wrap up the series with Quinnipiac.
First pitch is set for 12 p.m.