College Baseball :Rider University 14, Temple University 8

 Media Release April 2

 

AMBLER, PA—Sophomore Matt McCollum (Tabernacle, N.J./Shawnee) had three hits, four RBI, scored three runs and stole two bases to lead Rider to victory at Temple Wednesday. "It was nice to get out and score some runs, so we know we can score," said Rider head coach Barry Davis

   

The 14 runs is the most Rider (12-11) has scored since defeating Temple 18-7 last year.

   

Freshman Mason Heyne (Shrewsbury, Pa./Susquehannock) collected two hits in one inning, including his first collegiate home run, and finished the day with three hits and three RBI. "That home run was a big hit," Davis said. "He was the four hitter so we hope the four hitter keeps driving them in."

   

Rider scored eight runs in the second inning on five hits and a Temple error, the biggest hits being a three-run home run by Heyne and a three-run double by McCollum.  "They made an error that opened the door but we got some big hits that inning and it took off from there," Davis said. "It was good to get some separation. We haven't built a lead like that in a long time."

   

Heyne led off the second inning with a single and scored on a sacrifice fly. Junior James Hayes (Sunrise, Fla./Piper) also hit an RBI single in the second inning and finished with three hits and two runs scored, and pitched a scoreless ninth to preserve the victory after Temple loaded the bases.

   

Junior Dan Sasso (Bordentown, N.J./Bordentown) pitched five innings for the win, his second of the year, and struck out three. "We pitched well enough and played good enough defense where they never brought the tying run to the plate," Davis said.

   

Junior Maurice Williams Ocean, N.J./Monmouth Regional) also had three hits and is now batting a team-high .380 (27-71). "Mo again swung the bat well," Davis said. "The top of the order did very well today."

   

With two outs in the seventh inning, Rider scored three runs on three hits, including an RBI single by McCollum and an RBI double by junior Sean Olson(Vineland, N.J./St. Augustine Prep).

   

Temple (13-11) got on the board in the third inning on a bases loaded hit batsman, cutting the Rider lead to 9-1, and scored three runs in the fourth inning on four hits, another hit batsman and a sacrifice fly, cutting the lead to 11-4.  The Owls scored two runs in the eighth inning and one in the ninth for the final score. "Temple swung the bat and stayed close enough where we had to keep playing," Davis said.

   

Rider travels to Canisius for a three-game MAAC series this weekend, beginning with a 3pm doubleheader Saturday. "This is a big weekend," Davis said. "Right now I would say they are the best team in the league. We have our hands full and we need to bring our 'A' game all weekend to walk out of there with any type of success at all."

   

   

-ru-