March 14, 2006 - Mercer 12 Rider 8
March 14, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
College Baseball
Mercer University 12, Rider University 8
MACON, GEORGIA--The Broncs lost to the host Bears of Mercer Tuesday night, despite two doubles and four RBI by freshman Maurice Williams (Tinton Falls, N.J./Monmouth Regional). “Williams is swinging a hot bat right now,” said Rider head coach Barry Davis.
Rider (0-11) scored five runs in the fifth inning on two hits and a pair of Mercer errors to take a 6-2 lead. The biggest hit of the inning was a two-run double by Williams. “He does what we ask him to do,” said Davis. “When he gets a good pitch he puts a good swing on it.”
Mercer (14-8) scored five runs in the sixth inning to take a 9-6 lead.
The Broncs scored two runs in the ninth inning on another two-run double by Williams for the final score. “His first double was to right-center, and his second one was to left center,” said Davis. “He’s being aggressive at the plate and it is paying off for him.”
Seniors Bryan Wagner (Flemington, N.J./North Hunterdon) and Tom Letizia (Fair Lawn, N.J./Fair Lawn) each had two of Rider’s nine hits.
Rider manufactured a run in the first inning when Wagner led off with a single, stole second, went to third on a single by Letizia, and scored on a sacrifice fly by junior Scott Knazek (Browns Mills, N.J./Pemberton).
“We scored eight runs,” Davis said, “so we’re swinging the bats. What we need to do is stop the other team from scoring.”
Rider plays the second game of the two-game series at Mercer Wednesday evening.
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