Rider University 3, Niagara University 2;Rider University 9, Niagara University 3

College Baseball April 26, 2008
 

LAWRENCEVILLE—The Broncs swept Niagara in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference doubleheader Saturday. 

Freshman shortstop John Ralston (Annandale, Va./Paul VI) collected five hits and freshman third baseman Mason Heyne (Shrewsbury, Pa./Susquehannock) had a pair of home runs, as the left side of the Rider infield accounted for nine hits, five RBI and six runs scored in the twinbill. “

In the first game, with bases loaded and one out in the ninth inning, sophomore Matt McCollum (Tabernacle, N.J./Shawnee) grounded out to shortstop, scoring junior Maurice Williams (Ocean, N.J./Monmouth Regional) with the winning run. The middle infielders were at double-play depth but the ball was hit too slowly for a double play, but too deep to cut down the runner at home.

Niagara took a 2-1 lead in the top of the ninth inning when a ground ball hit first base with two runners on, the third hit of the inning by the Purple Eagles.

Rider tied the score at 1-1 in the seventh inning when Ralston singled, went to second on a wild pitch and scored on a single by freshman Steve Galella (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./G.A.R. Memorial). Ralston and Galella each had two of Rider’s seven hits.

Niagara took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning on a solo home run.

Freshman Mike Thomas (Forest Hill, Md./Fallston) got the win, striking out the only batter he faced to end the top of the ninth inning.

Junior Mike Petrowski (Hamilton Square, N.J./Steinert) pitched eight and two-thirds innings, striking out four without allowing a walk.

In the second game, Rider (23-16, 11-6 MAAC) took a 2-0 lead in the second inning when Ralston hit an RBI double and Galella followed with an RBI single.

Ralston is batting .318 with runners in scoring position, 48 points higher than his .270 batting average.

In the third inning Rider scored four runs on four hits, including another RBI double by Ralston and an RBI triple by Williams to take a 6-0 lead. It was the second triple for Williams this week.

Junior Jimmer Kennedy (Levittown, Pa./Holy Ghost Prep) pitched a complete game, striking out five without allowing a walk

Heyne hit his second home run of the day and his fifth of the season to lead off the fifth inning, giving Rider a 9-2 lead, but no one congratulated him when he reached home plate or the dugout. “Yea, they gave me the silent treatment,” Heyne said. “I don’t think they would have done that if it was still a close game. We were playing well so everyone was goofing around a little bit.”

Rider hosts Niagara (17-20, 6-8 MAAC) in the third game of the series Sunday at 12 noon.

-RU-