LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – The Rider baseball team secured a 5-3 series-clinching victory over Merrimack on Saturday afternoon at Sonny Pittaro Field.
The Warriors struck first, taking a 1-0 lead off a Bronc wild pitch.
In the bottom of the second inning,
Kyle Neri tied the game with a solo home run to right field, his fourth of the season.
Merrimack responded quickly, as Brady Cavan launched a two-run homer over the left field in the third inning, giving the Warriors a 3-1 advantage.
Rider answered back in the bottom of the third when
Peter Crespo drove in a run with a single to right field, trimming the deficit to 3-2.
Merrimack's defensive struggles in the fourth inning proved costly, as two fielding errors allowed the Broncs to take a 4-3 lead.
The Broncs added an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth, capitalizing on a failed pick-off attempt to extend their lead to 5-3.
Merrimack threatened in the top of the ninth, putting runners on first and second with two outs, but
Kyle Neri made a diving catch in left field to secure the final out and seal the series victory for Rider.
Broncs by the Numbers
- Rider had 11 hits in the victory with
Matt Leahy,
Joe Tiroly,
Peter Crespo,
Griffin Puvel, and
Will Gallagher each recording a hit.
- Neri,
Nick Shuhet, and
Charley Magoulick each had two hits.
- Crespo and Neri each recorded one RBI.
-
PJ Craig pitched 6.0 innings, allowing five hits, runs, and he racked up eight strikeouts.
-
Jack Ruditzky pitched 1.1 innings, allowing no hits, no runs, and one strikeout.
-
Zach Silfies closed the game for the Broncs, allowing only one hit, no runs, and one strikeout.
Up Next
The Broncs return to action tomorrow, Mar. 23, to wrap up the weekend series with Merrimack.
First pitch is set for noon.
