PHILADELPHIA – The Rider University baseball team fell behind 4-0 in the first inning before storming back, largely due to a five-run eighth, defeating Penn 6-5 Wednesday afternoon. The Broncs improve to 21-18 with the win, while the Quakers fall to 26-10.
 
The Quakers took advantage of two hits, four walks, a hit batter to score four runs in the opening inning.
 
The Broncs' offense was stifled until the sixth. Jake Barbiere (Randolph, NJ/Randolph) hit a two-out single then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Scott Shaw (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) drove in Barbiere with a single to right center.

While the Broncs were struggling offensively, the defense stepped up with a trio of diving catches in the outfield. One by Brendan O'Donnell (Malvern, PA/Great Valley) and pair by John Volpe (Sea Girt,NJ/Wall).

In the eighth, Socrates Bardatsos (Ridgefield, NJ/St. Joseph's Regional) led off the inning with a walk. Barbiere followed with a single under the diving glove of the third baseman. A walk by Shaw loaded the bases with no outs. Two batters later Luke Lesch (Gloucester Township, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) punched a single to left to drive in a run. O'Donnell ran a full count before drawing a walk to bring in a run to make the score 4-3. A sacrifice fly by Jordan Erbe (Toms River, NJ/Toms River South[UMass]) tied the game to bring Volpe to the plate. A wild pitch brought in Alex Diamantis (Staten Island, NY/St. Peter's Boys), who came is as a pinch-runner for Lesch, to give the Broncs the lead. Volpe then gave the Broncs an insurance run with a triple off the fence in left center.
 
The Quakers scored a run on a pair of hits in the ninth, but the Broncs got a pop up in foul ground outside of first to end the game.
 
Quotes & Notes
"Penn's a good team, they're at the top of the Ivy. Overall it's a good win."
 
"We scored late, got a big inning. We just need to keep swinging ang the hits are going to happen."
 
"Brian Young did a good job today, making his first career start against a team like this. He settled down after that first inning. Vinny and Frank gave us a chance and Danny closed it out. We've been a good defensive team. Erbe made some nice plays at short, Volpe made a couple nice plays and O'Donnell made a nice play."– Head Coach Dr. Barry Davis
 
- Brian Young (Neptune, NJ/Communication) made the start for the Broncs, settling in after the first to finish with three innings, allowing the four runs on four hits with one strike out.
- Vincent Vitacco (Staten Island, NY/Monsignor Farrell) followed with 1.1 innings, allowing no runs on no hits. He walked a pair as his only base runners.
- Frank DelGuercio (Millstone, NJ/The Hun School) faced just seven batters as he went 2.2 innings to earn the win. He induced a double play by the first batter he faced, and the only hit he allowed was wiped out when the runner over slid second base.
- Danny Kirwin (Lansdale, PA/North Penn) came in and tossed the final two innings to earn the save. He allowed one run on three hits and struck out three.
 
Broncs by the Numbers
- Four Broncs recorded hits in the game, led by a pair from Volpe and Barbiere.
- Bardatsos has reached base in 24-straight games. Volpe has a hit in eight-straight contests.
- Rider is now 18-0 when scoring six or more runs.
 
Up Next
- The Broncs begin a key series on Friday at Monmouth. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.