LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – The Rider baseball team rode a complete-game performance from PJ Craig, and a pair of big home runs to a 9-2 win over Marist in Thursday afternoon's series opener at Sonny Pittaro Field.

Rider struck first in the opening inning, capitalizing on a double from Erich Hartmann and an RBI single off the bat of Nick Shuhet to take an early 1-0 lead.

Craig was in control from the outset, retiring the first nine batters he faced and keeping the Red Foxes hitless through the first five innings.

The Broncs added to their lead at the bottom of the fifth, as Matt Leahy reached to start the frame before Will Gallagher launched a two-run home run to left, making it 3-0.

Marist got on the board in the sixth, but Craig limited further damage to keep Rider in control.

Rider answered back in the seventh, with Shuhet delivering his second RBI of the day to extend the lead to 4-1.

The Broncs broke the game open in the eighth inning. After back-to-back singles from Peter Crespo and Leahy, Hartmann brought home a run with a perfectly placed bunt. Kyle Neri followed with an RBI single before Anthony Paskell capped the inning with his sixth home run of the season, a three-run blast over the left field wall that extended Rider's lead to 9-1.

Marist added a run in the ninth, but Craig finished off the complete game to secure the 9-2 victory for Rider.

Quotes and Notes
"I thought PJ was great from the start and really set the tone for us. That's why he's at the front of our rotation. He attacked the zone early and gave us exactly what we needed, and we wanted him to go the distance. Offensively, I liked our approach at the plate. We worked counts, drove up their starter's pitch count early, and came through with some big hits like Gallagher's two-run homer and Paskell's three-run shot. But I think the big play in that inning was Hartmann's bunt. You've got to play all nine innings, and we did that, tacking on five late in the eighth. We're starting to build some confidence, and hopefully we can carry that into tomorrow." - Acting Head Coach Dr. Barry Davis

- Gallagher and Neri each pushed their on-base streaks to 23 games, while Shuhet and Paskell extended theirs to 22.
- Paskell pushed his hitting streak to 12 games, while Neri extended his to 10 games.
- Craig tossed the first complete game of his career, allowing four hits and one earned run while striking out nine.

Broncs by the Numbers
- Rider outhit Marist, 15-4.
- Leahy and Shuhet led the offense with three hits apiece.
- Hartmann, Neri, and Paskell each recorded two hits.
- Gallagher, Austin Cannon, and Crespo each added a hit.
- Paskell led the team with three RBIs, while Gallagher and Shuhet drove in two each.
- Neri and Hartmann each recorded an RBI.

Up Next
The Broncs return to action Friday, April 3, for game two of the series against Marist. 
First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.