NEWARK, DE – The Rider baseball team struck first and kept battling late, but the University of Delaware pulled away for a 13-8 win in Friday night's series opener at Bob Hannah Stadium.
Anthony Paskell set the tone immediately, jumping on the first pitch he saw and sending it over the wall in left to give the Broncs a 1-0 lead.
Rider added on in the second inning when Paskell reached and later came around to score on an
Erich Hartmann single to center field, pushing the advantage to 2-0.
Delaware answered in the third with a pair of runs to even the score before Rider reclaimed the lead in the fourth. The Broncs loaded the bases and scratched across a run on Hartmann's groundout to move back in front, 3-2.
The Blue Hens responded in the bottom half with a solo homer to tie the game and three more runs to seize their first lead at 6-3. Rider threatened again in the sixth, putting runners on the corners before Hartmann reached on an error that allowed
Matt Leahy to score and cut the deficit to 6-4.
Delaware countered with four runs in the bottom of the inning and added to its lead with a two-run seventh and a single run in the eighth to build a 13-4 cushion.
Rider did not go quietly in the ninth. The Broncs plated four runs, highlighted by a three-run blast from
AJ Labrusciano, to trim the margin to 13-8, but the comeback bid fell short as Delaware secured the opener.
Quotes and Notes
"I thought offensively, we did some good things. They had two big innings. 8 runs. At 6-4, we are in the game, but it got away from us. Not our day. We'll get them tomorrow."
- Acting Head Coach Dr. Barry Davis
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Noah Heath made the first appearance of his collegiate career.
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Anthony Paskell and
AJ Labrusciano each connected on their first home runs of the season.
Broncs by the Numbers
- Rider totaled seven hits in the contest.
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Kyle Neri and
Nick Shuhet paced the lineup with two hits apiece.
- Paskell,
Erich Hartmann,
Eliot Medlock,
Charley Magoulick, Labrusciano and
Will Gallagher each added a hit.
- Labrusciano drove in a team-high three runs, while Hartmann finished with two RBIs and Paskell added one.
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PJ Craig made the start, working 4.1 innings with seven strikeouts.
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Jake Dorety tossed 1.2 innings in relief, and
Noah Heath followed with one inning and a strikeout in his collegiate debut.
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Gavin Alloway also logged an inning out of the bullpen.
Up Next
The Broncs continue the series tomorrow, Feb. 28, against the Blue Hens.
First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m.
