Box Score LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ—Rider scored nine runs in the first, two in the second and one in the third and fourth inning, cruising to a 13-3 victory over visiting NJIT Wednesday afternoon at Sonny Pittaro Field.
NJIT won 2-of-3 when the teams played in late March. They split a doubleheader in Newark on March 22 and the Highlanders won a 10-inning contest the next day at Rider.
The Broncs, who were regular season champs of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference in 2013, improve to 9-17 on the season while the visiting Highlanders drop to 9-12 after sweeping a three-game series over the weekend from NYIT.
Rider was led by 1B Justin Thomas with a 3-for-4 day with three runs batted in and two runs scored while RF Brian Donnelly finished 2-for-3 with three runs batted in and one run scored.
The winning pitcher, pitching five innings, was Broncs David Hafer who started his fifth game improving to 2-1 on the season, scattering six hits and two runs.
NJIT starting pitcher freshman right-hander
Pat Geraghty made his first collegiate start Wednesday and took the loss falling to 0-2 on the season. Classmate
Brian Sondergard allowed five runs on eight hits in 5.1 innings pitched while senior
Frank Shivers pitched a scoreless seventh and eighth inning for the Highlanders.
The Highlanders, with nine hits, had three players with two hits apiece—3B
Mike Rampone (2-for-5), 1B
Tom Bouck (2-for-4) with two runs and RF
Scott Brosman (2-for-3).
Rider combined for 13 runs over the first four innings, for a 13-2 lead heading into the fifth.
NJIT scored two runs in the bottom of the second after three consecutive singles by Bouck, SS
Bryan Haberstroh and Brosman. NJIT scored its first run on a bases loaded walk with C
Zack Renna at the plate and the second tally on a fielder's choice by 2B
Rex MacMillan scoring Haberstroh.
The Highlanders added another run in the top of the sixth on MacMillan's second fielder's choice of the game scoring Bouck who led off the inning with a double down the right field line.
NJIT will return to action on Saturday hosting Sacred Heart in a 12pm doubleheader at Riverfront Stadium. The first game is scheduled for 9-innings followed by a 7-inning affair.
Sacred Heart comes into Saturday's contest with a 14-10 overall record and have won the last four out of five contests.
