Rider University Athletics

WAPPINGERS FALLS, NY - The top-seeded Rider University baseball team won its opening game at the MAAC Tournament Thursday morning, defeating fourth-seeded Merrimack, 8-2, to advance to the winner's bracket championship game. The Broncs improve to 31-17 on the year, while the Warriors fall to 27-28.
 
Rider opened the scoring in the bottom of the first. Will Gallagher (Cranford, NJ/Cranford) led off the game with a single, then after getting sacrificed into scoring position, Gallagher appeared to be picked off attempting to steal third, but the senior deftly slid around the tag, and came in to score when Anthony Paskell (Solon, OH/Saint Ignatius) ripped a double that dropped just fair to put the Broncs up early. The Warriors answered immediately with back-to-back home runs in the second to claim their first lead of the game.
 
Both starters settled in keeping the score there into the bottom of the seventh, when Rider took the game. Eight-straight Rider batters recorded hits to start the inning with Charley Magoulick (Arnold, MD/Dematha), Nick Shuhet (Mountain Lakes, NJ/Mountain Lakes), Elliott Medlock (Merrimack, NH/Merrimack[Bryant]), Peter Crespo (), Matt Leahy (), Gallagher, and Erich Hartmann (Medford, NJ/Shawnee) hitting back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back singles before Kyle Neri (Williamstown, NJ/St. Augustine Prep[Bryant]) hit a two-run double. Paskell then drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to give Rider an 8-2 lead.
 
The Broncs kept the Warriors off the board for the remaining two innings to secure the win.
 
Quotes & Notes
"PJ pitched very well, they got two good swings, other than that he put up zeros, and gave us a chance to do what we did late. We put up a big inning, our defense and pitching were strong, and that's what wins these types of games. It gives you an indication of the intensity that we're  going to need to play at to win at this time of year." – Acting Head Coach Barry Davis
 
"I was just trying to take everything one pitch at a time, one at bat at a time, and just doing what we were doing all year. The bats have been there all year, and I knew if I gave the team a chance to win, the bats would come through." – Senior Pitcher PJ Craig
 
- PJ Craig (Barnegat, NJ/Barnegat) got the start on the mound, tossing all nine innings and allowing two runs on just three hits, striking out six to earn the win.
- Magoulick extended his hitting streak to 17-straight games.
 
Broncs By The Numbers
- All nine Broncs recorded a hit in the game, led by three from Gallagher and two by Shuhet.
- Gallagher scored twice in the contest.
 
Up Next
The Broncs remain in the winner's bracket and will play the winner of no. 2 Niagara and no. 3 Fairfield Friday at 11 a.m.