ASHEVILLE, NC – Matt Leahy delivered the game-winning RBI in the ninth, propelling the Rider baseball team to a 6-5 season-opening victory on Friday afternoon.
Asheville struck first in the bottom of the second when Chase Klingemann launched a solo homer to left, giving the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead.
The Broncs answered in the top of the third. Will Gallagher led off with a base hit, and two batters later, Kyle Neri's RBI double scored Gallagher to even the score at 1-1.
The Bulldogs regained the lead in the bottom of the third on a two-run homer from Blaize Johnson, making it 3-1.
Rider quickly cut the deficit in the fourth. With one out, Eliot Medlock blasted his first homer as a Bronc to left, bringing the Broncs within one.
Rider turned a quick bottom of the fourth, escaping the jam with a 5-4-3 double play.
The top of the fifth saw more Broncs offense. Gallagher drew a leadoff walk, and Erich Hartmann singled to left, moving Gallagher to third. Kyle Neri reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Gallagher to even the game at 3-3.
In the sixth, Rider took the lead for the first time. With runners on first and second and two outs, Gallagher delivered a clutch single to drive in a run, giving the Broncs a 4-3 lead.
Reliever Christian Aiello went three up, three down in the bottom half to keep the lead.
Rider extended their lead in the seventh. Back-to-back hits from Neri and Charley Magoulick set up Nick Shuhet's RBI single to score Neri, pushing the Broncs ahead 5-3.
Asheville answered immediately with a two-run homer to tie the game at 5-5, keeping the back-and-forth battle alive.
At the top of the eighth, Rider loaded the bases with no outs thanks to a walk, hit by pitch, and a fielding error, but Asheville's pitching held strong to escape the jam.
It all came down to the ninth inning. Nick Shuhet led off with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Eliot Medlock. Austin Cannon pinch-hit for Crespo but flew out to center, moving Shuhet to third. With two outs and down 0-2 in the count, Matt Leahy delivered his first hit of the game, an RBI single that scored Shuhet and gave Rider a 6-5 lead.
Christian Aiello closed the bottom of the ninth, striking out two and forcing a groundout to secure the Broncs' first win of the 2026 season.
Quotes and Notes
"We played well. Solid at bats. 20 positives. Good defense no errors and solid pitching.
The first win is always tough. Time to improve and stack tomorrow onto today." - Acting Head Coach Dr. Barry Davis
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Eliot Medlock launched his first home run in a Rider uniform as the Broncs evened the all-time series with UNC Asheville at 1-1 in only the second meeting between the programs.
Broncs by the Numbers
- Rider collected 12 hits in the victory.
- Kyle Neri led the way with three hits.
- Shuhet, Medlock, and Gallagher each added two hits.
- Hartmann and Leahy contributed one hit apiece.
- Neri drove in two RBIs, while Shuhet, Medlock, Leahy, and Gallagher each recorded an RBI.
- On the mound, PJ Craig started for the Broncs, going 5.0 innings, giving up five hits, three earned runs, and striking out five.
- Christian Aiello pitched 4.0 innings in relief, allowing two hits, two runs, and striking out six.
Up Next
Rider returns to action on Feb. 21 to close out the series with a doubleheader.
First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.
