Broncs begin MAAC competition strong, hold on late to beat LIU

By Benjamin Shinault

The Broncs picked up right where they left off in last season’s Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference baseball action when they finished with a record of 22-6. In a three-game series beginning on March 6 against Sacred Heart University, the Broncs were able to secure the series win after taking two of three.

Rider then hopped on the road to New York to take on Long Island University in which they escaped narrowly, 7-6 on March 10.

Starting out MAAC right

With rain in the forecast, both teams agreed to play at Heritage Financial Park in Wappingers Falls, New York. 

Starting the first game for the Broncs was senior pitcher Christian Aiello. In his six innings of work, Aiello recorded a career-high in strikeouts with 11. 

Aiello also allowed just two hits and walked one Pioneer. With his performance, Aiello was named MAAC Pitcher of the Week on March 10.

“My fastball was working up in the zone,”Aiello said. “Attacking early was working for me and it wound up being a good outing for me.”

While Aiello was dealing on the mound, the Broncs offense was sluggish to start as they were scoreless for the first four innings.

Finally in the fifth, the Broncs broke free and put up five runs on the board. 

Starting the scoring for the Broncs was senior outfielder Anthony Paskell with an RBI single. Following that, junior outfielder Kyle Neri also cashed in another run off a single. Up 2-0, the Broncs added three more runs off a triple and a sacrifice fly to leave the fifth inning up 5-0.

Aiello exited the game after the sixth inning and junior Jake Dorety came in to finish it out. Over his final three innings, Dorety struck out four and gave up just three hits.

The Pioneers were able to get a run across to make it 5-1, but the Broncs pitching was strong and gave them the win in game one of the series.

“[Aiello] gave us more than we probably anticipated, just an excellent outing,” Acting Head Coach Barry Davis said. “Of course Jake Dorety did a great job coming in … he picked up the save and did a good job.”

Game two was more of the same for Rider; solid pitching and great offense. Sophomore Kyle    Batt got the start for the Broncs and fell into some trouble giving up three earned runs to put the Broncs in a 3-0 hole entering the sixth inning.

In the sixth inning, though, the Broncs were able to get on the board after a Neri RBI. Just down 3-1 entering the seventh, the Broncs struck hard, racking up five runs to go up 6-3.

After Batt exited after the third inning, senior PJ Craig entered and continued the strong trend of pitching as he went the final six innings striking out seven and allowing just two hits.

Up 6-3 in the eighth, Rider was searching for some insurance and got that and more with a three-run homerun from Paskell to put Rider up 9-3.

With the lead now at six runs, the Pioneers faltered and lost the series, while the Broncs emerged victorious, 9-3.

“Well, anytime you win a series, no matter who you’re playing, it’s always positive in terms of wins and losses,” Davis said. “I thought we handled ourselves pretty well.”

A series sweep was not in the cards for the Broncs, though. Taking to the mound in game three for the Broncs was senior Clayton Poliey. 

Over his five innings of action, Poliey surrendered five earned runs, coming off one mistake that ended up over the wall for the Pioneers that scored them three runs in the first inning. After that, Poliey settled in. 

Freshman pitcher Connor Flynn came in after Poliey and pitched well, giving up two hits in his two innings of action. After Flynn, junior Alex D’Ambrosio struck out two in just one inning.

Rider’s offense in the series finale was held silent until the third inning when junior catcher Nick Shuhet ran off a single to make it 3-1. 

In the next inning, senior outfielder Erich Hartmann tied it up at 3-3 with an RBI double that scored two. 

The game was knotted up at 3-3 until the sixth inning when Sacred Heart pushed two runs across off a single to left field. 

Now down 5-3 entering the ninth inning, sophomore infielder Peter Crespo launched a home run to close the gap to one, but it was not enough as the Broncs fell 5-4.

“We’d like to have certainly won them all, but nobody does that, but we played well and competed,” Davis said.

Survived the Sharks’ bite

On March 10, the Broncs took a trip to New York to face the Long Island University Sharks.

Rider immediately pounced and got out to a 7-0 lead by the end of the second inning. Crespo and Neri both brought in two runs each in the second inning. 

Up 7-0 entering the fourth inning, the Sharks attacked and came within just one run in the ninth inning, but D’Ambrosio closed the door and secured the win, 7-6. Rider is back on the prowl on March 11 against Hofstra University at 3 p.m.