HEMPSTEAD, NY – A nine-run third inning proved too much to overcome as the Rider baseball team fell to Hofstra, 15-6, in eight innings Wednesday afternoon at University Field.

Rider threatened immediately in the opening frame. Erich Hartmann singled and Kyle Neri roped a double to right before Anthony Paskell was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out. Hofstra worked out of the early jam, however, keeping the Broncs off the scoreboard.

The Pride took advantage in the bottom half of the inning, launching a solo home run to grab a 1-0 lead.

Hofstra then broke the game open in the third, erupting for nine runs to build a 10-0 advantage.

Rider began chipping away in the fourth. Eliot Medlock led off the inning with a solo home run to put the Broncs on the board. Walks by AJ Labrusciano and Noah Heath followed before Will Gallagher singled to load the bases. Hartmann's groundout plated Labrusciano, trimming the deficit to 10-2.

The Broncs kept the pressure on in the inning. Neri was hit by a pitch and Dillion Jennings drew a walk to reload the bases before Rider capitalized on a Hofstra miscue that allowed another run to score. Neri later crossed the plate on a Pride error, cutting the margin to 10-4.

Hofstra answered with a run in the bottom of the fourth, but Rider responded again in the fifth. The Broncs loaded the bases and pushed across two runs on a pair of wild pitches to pull within five at 11-6.

The Pride responded once more in the bottom half, scoring four runs to extend their lead to 15-6 through five innings.

Rider threatened again in the sixth, loading the bases with no outs on back-to-back walks and a hit-by-pitch. Hofstra escaped the jam with a fly out and a 6-4-3 double play to halt the rally.

Neither side would score again as the Broncs fell 15-6 on the road.

Quotes and Notes
"The game got away from us early after giving up nine runs in the third, and we spent most of the afternoon trying to play catch-up. I thought we did a good job putting ourselves in position at times, but we just didn't quite have enough to close the gap. On the positive side, we were able to see some different guys get opportunities and get a few arms on the mound that haven't seen a lot of action yet. Regardless of the outcome, there were definitely some positives to take away. There are things we need to clean up, but we feel good heading into the weekend against Siena." - Acting Head Coach Dr. Barry Davis

- Kyle Neri extended his hitting streak to 11 games.
- Will Gallagher pushed his hitting streak to eight games.
- Demetrios Bardatsos made his first collegiate appearance.

Broncs by the Numbers
- Rider totaled 10 hits in the contest.
- Gallagher led the Broncs with a three-hit performance, while Eliot Medlock added two hits.
- Erich Hartmann, Neri, Griffin Puvel, Peter Crespo and Noah Heath each recorded one hit.
- Rider's lone RBI came on Medlock's solo home run.
- Seven Broncs saw time on the mound: Jack Ruditzky, Jake Dorety, Gavin Alloway, Conner Flynn, Lucas Garton, Gallagher and Heath.

Up Next
The Broncs return to action on March 13 before opening its first home series of the season against Siena at Sonny Pittaro Field. 
First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. on ESPN+.