Friday, February 21, 2026, at 3:00 p.m.
Saturday, February 22, 2026, at 1:00 p.m.
Sunday, February 23, 2026, at 12:00 p.m.
Rider Broncs (0-0, 0-0 MAAC)) vs. UNC Asheville Bulldogs (2-3, 0-0 Big South)
Location: Asheville, N.C. / Greenwood Baseball Field
First Pitch: 3:00 p.m. / 1:00 p.m. / 12:00 p.m.
Live Stats: HERE
Twitter: @RiderUBaseball

What You Need to Know
- The Rider University baseball team opens its 2026 season on the road at UNC Asheville Bulldogs this weekend for a three-game series.
- First pitch is set for Friday at 3 p.m.

About the Broncs
- Rider is coming off one of the best seasons in program history, finishing 34-18 overall and 22-6 in MAAC play, just two wins shy of the single-season program record.
- The Broncs captured the MAAC Regular Season title, clinching it against Fairfield Stags in the regular-season finale for the first time since 2015 before falling to Fairfield in the MAAC Championship Series.
- Eight starters return on offense, led by 2025 All-MAAC First Team selection Kyle Neri and MAAC All-Rookie Team honoree Charley Magoulick.
- Kyle Neri batted .324 last season, ranking third on the team with 69 hits, 14 doubles, six home runs, and 43 RBIs.
- Charley Magoulick had a standout freshman season, hitting .315 with 52 hits, six home runs, and 31 RBIs, including a walk-off homer against Fairfield that secured the regular-season title.
- Erich Hartmann returns for his senior season after hitting .351 with 71 hits and 53 runs scored, both second on the team. His batting average ranked eighth in the MAAC last season.
- Matt Leahy was a stealing machine last season leading the Broncs with 14 stolen bases. 
- Nick Shuhet hit .317, ranking second on the team with 57 RBIs and eight home runs. His RBI total ranked seventh in the MAAC a year ago.
- PJ Craig, Clayton Poliey, and Kyle Batt all return to anchor the Broncs on the mound in 2026.
    - PJ Craig, a 2024 First Team All-MAAC selection, returns after missing much of 2025 due to injury. In 2024, he tied for the team lead with a 7-3 record.
    - Clayton Poliey pitched 57.2 innings last season, finishing 3-2 with 34 strikeouts, including season-high six-strikeout games against Western Carolina (3/2/25) and Canisius (5/11/25).
    - Kyle Batt earned MAAC All-Rookie Team honors after a strong freshman campaign, going 4-4 with 34 strikeouts across 51.2 innings.
- Rider received one first-place vote and was selected second in the 2026 MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll. Neri was the lone Bronc named to the Preseason All-MAAC Team.
- The Broncs made their 10th appearance in the MAAC Championship Game last season.
- Dr. Barry Davis returns as Acting Head Coach for the 2026 campaign. Over 20 seasons leading the program, Davis has built Rider into a perennial MAAC contender, winning four conference tournament titles, two regular-season championships, and guiding the Broncs to 13 conference tournament appearances. He owns a 1,026-693 career record.

New Faces in Lawrenceville
- The Broncs add nine newcomers this season, including five freshmen and four transfers.
- Alex D'Ambrosio (Seton Hall) – Pitched in seven games last year, starting four, and finished with a 7.00 ERA over nine innings.
- Eliot Medlock (Bryant) – Played 17 games, starting 13 in the infield during his freshman year. Hit .188 with two home runs, five doubles, four RBI, and nine runs scored, posting a .361 on-base percentage.
- Daniel Chun (NYU) – Chun appeared in two games for the Violets. 

History vs UNC Asheville
- Rider and UNC Asheville will meet for just the second time, with the Bulldogs winning their first matchup 19-4 at Rider on Feb. 27, 2016.

About the Bulldogs
- Asheville enters the weekend with a 2-3 record, splitting two games each against St. Bonaventure before falling 10-3 to No. 13 Tennessee on Feb. 17 in Knoxville.
- The Bulldogs return nine position players and seven pitchers from last season, while adding 13 newcomers to the roster.
- UNC Asheville played its first games under Interim Head Coach Alex Raburn.

Pitching Matchups
Rider
Friday: PJ Craig
25' Stats – 7.50 ERA | 2-2 REC | 24.0 IP
Saturday: Kyle Batt
25' Stats – 5.05 ERA | 4-4 REC | 51.2 IP
Sunday: Clayton Poliey
25' Stats – 7.65 ERA | 3-2 REC | 57.2 IP

UNC Asheville
Friday: Lucas Boesen - RHP
Saturday: Cooper Smith - RHP 
Sunday: TBD