NEWARK, DE – The Rider baseball team erased an early deficit with a dominant offensive surge, scoring nine unanswered runs to defeat Delaware, 10-5, in the opening round of the Liberty Bell Classic. The win sends the Broncs to next week's semifinal while improving to 15-7 (10-2 MAAC), as the Blue Hens fall to 10-19 (1-8 CUSA).

Delaware struck first with a two-run home run in the opening inning to take an early 2-0 lead.

Rider responded in the third, cutting the deficit in half on an RBI single from Austin Cannon.

The Broncs broke the game open in the fifth, erupting for seven runs on seven hits to seize control. After Cannon drove in his second run of the day, back-to-back singles from Anthony Paskell and Charley Magoulick set the stage for Nick Shuhet, who delivered a go-ahead two-run double. Eliot Medlock followed with an RBI double of his own, and Demetri Bardatsos added an RBI single to extend the rally. With two outs, Matt Leahy and Will Gallagher drew consecutive walks before Erich Hartmann capped the inning with a two-run double, giving Rider an 8-2 advantage.

Rider added to its lead in the sixth as Shuhet was hit by a pitch and Medlock delivered his second RBI double of the game to make it 9-2.

Delaware plated three runs in the seventh to trim the deficit, but the Broncs responded in the eighth as Leahy laced an RBI double off the fence, just staying in the park, to extend the lead to 10-5.

The Blue Hens threatened in the ninth, loading the bases, but Rider held firm to close out the win.

Quotes and Notes
"Hitting is contagious, and we've got a group of guys with good approaches at the plate. We can drive the ball out of the park or into the gaps, there's definitely power throughout the lineup. It's an experienced group that stays composed and doesn't panic at the plate. Defensively, I think we've been playing really well too." - Acting Head Coach Dr. Barry Davis

- Gallagher and Neri each extended their on-base streaks to 22 games, while Anthony Paskell pushed his hitting streak to 11 games.
- Eliot Medlock extended his hitting streak to 10 games, as all nine starters recorded at least one hit. 
- The Broncs hit double digits for the 10th time this season and improved to 10-1 in games when scoring 10 or more runs.
- Medlock paced the offense with three doubles on the day, while Nick Shuhet added a pair of two-baggers. 
- Demetri Bardatsos recorded his first career start and first career hit

Broncs by the Numbers
- Rider outhit Delaware, 15-6.
- Medlock led all batters with three hits, all doubles.
- Cannon, Shuhet, Magoulick, and Bardatsos each recorded two hits.
- Gallagher, Hartmann, and Paskell added one hit apiece.
- Hartmann, Cannon, Shuhet, and Medlock each drove in two runs, while Leahy added an RBI.
- Kane got the start, tossing 5.0 innings while allowing three hits and two runs with one strikeout.
- Jack Ruditzky, Alex D'Ambrosio, Jake Dorety, Chris Montone, and Conner Flynn all saw action out of the bullpen.

Up Next
The Broncs return to action on April 2 when they host Marist for a three-game series.
First pitch is set for 3 p.m.