WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – The Rider University baseball team fell to Monmouth, 6-5, Sunday afternoon, dropping the rubber game of the three-game series. The Broncs fall to 22-20 overall and 9-6 in conference play. The Hawks improve to 20-20 overall and an equal 9-6 against MAAC competition.
 
Rider got on the board first in the top of the third. Brendan O'Donnell (Malvern, PA/Great Valley) led off the inning with a no-doubt home run to straight-away center field.
 
The Broncs would not hold the lead long as the Hawks quickly secured the lead in the bottom half, first tying the game, then taking a 4-1 lead on a bases loaded double that cleared the bases.
 
In the fifth, O'Donnell led off the inning with a walk. Jordan Erbe (Toms River, NJ/Toms River South[UMass]) followed with a double. O'Donnell came in to score on a wild pitch, then an infield single by Jack Winsett (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern Regional) scored Erbe. A two-out walk by Jake Barbiere (Randolph, NJ/Randolph) brought Luke Lesch (Gloucester Township, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) to the plate. Lesch delivered a double down the right field line that scored Winsett and Barbiere, who hustled from first to score just ahead of the throw.
 
The Rider lead was once again short lived as Monmouth scored two in the bottom of the fifth to retake a 6-5 lead.
 
The Broncs had opportunities, getting runners on second and third with two outs in the seventh, but not finding the hit to score the runner.
 
In the ninth, Socrates Bardatsos (Ridgefield, NJ/St. Joseph's Regional) hit a two-out single to right. He was then pulled for a pinch runner in Richie Sica (Wycoff, NJ/Ramapo). Sica advanced to second on a wild pitch, then advanced to third on another wild pitch. The loose ball got away from the Hawk's catcher and was moving in foul territory along the first base side. Sica never stopped around third and attempted to tie the game, but the Monmouth first baseman made the throw to the pitcher covering just in time to get Sica at the plate and end the game.
 
Quotes & Notes
"We didn't do enough at the plate or in the field when we needed to."
 
"The bullpen was good late. They gave us a chance to win late."
 
"I love the way we battled all day. That's the type of attitude you need to win big games and we're looking forward to three more of them next weekend." – Head Coach Dr. Barry Davis
 
- Vincent Vitacco (Staten Island, NY/Monsignor Farrell) threw four innings, allowing five runs on five hits. He struck out four.
- Frank DelGuercio (Millstone, NJ/The Hun School of Princeton) followed with 1.2 innings, allowing a single run on two hits, taking the loss.
- Kyle Smith (Stratford, NJ/Sterling) entered and retired both batters that he faced.
- Brian Young (Neptune, NJ/Communication) faced two batters, striking out one and allowing a hit.
- Danny Kirwin (Lansdale, PA/North Penn) threw the final 1.1 innings without allowing a hit. He struck out one.
 
Broncs by the Numbers
- Seven Broncs had hits in the game, led by two each from Lesch and Erbe.
- O'Donnell is now tied for the lead in the MAAC with 14 home runs.
 
Up Next
- The Broncs host Marist for a three-game set beginning Friday at 3 p.m.