LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ—A five-run second inning and six-run seventh inning for Rider lifted the Broncs to a 16-10 mid-week non-conference win over visiting NJIT Wednesday at Sonny Pittaro Field.
Rider, which snapped a four-game skid, improves to 9-18 overall while the Highlanders stand at 9-13-1, entering ASUN Conference weekend action at Stetson.
The Broncs jumped out to a 7-0 lead after three innings. Visiting NJIT added a single run in the fourth and six in the top of the sixth, cutting the Bronc lead to three, 10-7. The home team used a six-run seventh inning to secure the 16-10 victory over the Highlanders.
Freshman DH
Jared Donnelly drove in a team-best three runs, going 1-for-5 followed by senior co-captain SS
Justin Etts went 1-for-4 with two RBI and one run scored.
LF
Julio Marcano finished 3-for-6 with one RBI and two runs while CF
Michael Anastasia went 3-for-5 with two runs and one RBI. Five different Highlanders registered a hit.
NJIT used eight pitchers in the game –
Bryce Short, the Highlanders fourth pitcher,
Grant Vurpillat the sixth pitcher and
Darwin Rodas the eighth pitcher, held the Broncs scoreless and hitless.
Freshman
Brett Helmkamp got the Highlanders on the board in the top of the fourth with an RBI single up the middle, scoring Etts.
With bases loaded in the top of the sixth, Donnelly doubled scoring three Highlanders as Anastasia followed up with a triple to center field, scoring Donnelly, cutting the Bronc lead to five, 10-5. NJIT continued its hot-hitting inning with an RBI double to right field by
Julio Marcano and RBI single up the middle by
David Marcano, pulling within three, 10-7.
In the top of the eighth, Etts doubled down the right field line, scoring a pair of Highlanders for a 16-9 score.
Sophomore
Nick Hussey drove in a single run in the ninth with a RBI groundout to shortstop.
NJIT will return to action this weekend when the Highlanders visit Stetson (12-16, 2-1 ASUN) in DeLand, Florida. The three-game series will begin on Friday at 6:30pm, Saturday at 6:30pm and Sunday at 12:30pm. All three games will be streamed live on ESPN+.