March 18, 2006 - Rider 12 Jacksonville St. 10 / Jacksonville St. 7 Rider 3
March 18, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
College Baseball
Rider University 12, Jacksonville State University 10
Jacksonville State University 7, Rider University 3
JACKSONVILLE, AL—The Broncs ended their eight-game spring break road trip with a split on Saturday. “Overall we played pretty good, we played them tough,” said Rider head coach Barry Davis.
In the first game, Rider broke a 10-10 tie in the top of the ninth inning on a two-out, two-run single by senior Bryan Wagner (Flemington, N.J./North Hunterdon). It was Wagner’s third hit of the game, and his second and third RBI. “Wagner had a good day,” said Davis. “He got some big hits, stole some bases. He has always been a player who can do some different things to help the club.”
Rider had jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the third inning when junior Scott Knazek (Browns Mills, N.J./Pemberton) hit a two-run triple. The Broncs led 9-1 in the seventh inning when freshman Maurice Williams (Tinton Falls, N.J./Monmouth Regional) hit an RBI double and senior Gene Crimoli (Shrewsbury/Christian Brothers Academy) hit a two-run single. Crimoli also homered in the first game, his second home run in the last three games. “It’s a good sign to see Crimoli’s bat come around,” said Davis.
Freshman Jamie Hayes (Sunrise, Fla./Piper) started the game in right field, had a single, a stolen base and scored a run, and moved to the mound to pitch the final inning and one-third for the victory, his first. “Hayes is a pretty good ball player,” said Davis. “Catcher is about the only position he doesn’t play, and he needs to be in the line up. He came in and did a good job closing that game.”
Sophomore pitcher Will O’Connor (Cinnaminson, N.J./Cinnaminson) retired the first ten batters he faced before JSU got on the board in the fourth inning. O’Connor pitched six and two-thirds innings, allowing four earned runs, and left the game with a 9-6 lead, but the host team scored seven in the seventh and two in the eighth to tie the score at 10-10. “Willie was doing a great job,” said Davis.
In the second game, a seven inning contest, Rider (2-13) scored a run in the top of the first inning when Wagner singled, stole second and third and scored on a ground ball to shortstop. The Broncs took a 3-2 lead in the second inning on a Wagner RBI single and a double steal when Wagner stole second.
JSU scored three runs in the second inning on three hits and a Rider error to take a 5-3 lead, and scored two more in the sixth.
Rider returns home from spring break and plays at St. Joseph’s Tuesday. “We’re a lot better than last year,’ said Davis. ‘We’ve been playing very good teams and we’ve proven we can hit some pretty good pitching. Once our pitching becomes a little more consistent for nine innings we’ll start winning more of these close games.”
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