March 22, 2006 - Monmouth 15 Rider 1
March 22, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
College Baseball
Monmouth University 15, Rider University 1
LAWRENCEVILLE—In the 2006 season home opener, the Broncs lost to Monmouth Wednesday. “Sometimes there are going to be days like this,” said Rider head coach Barry Davis.
For Rider (3-14), freshman Maurice Williams (Tinton Falls) had two of Rider’s six hits against Monmouth Wednesday. “Mo is pretty hot right now,” said Davis. Williams had a hit, a sacrifice fly and a stolen base in the win over St. Joseph’s Tuesday. “He’s our most consistent hitter right now. He’s improved in the outfield, getting good reads, and he’s hustling, giving us everything he’s got.”
Williams was an All-State Group III selection for the Group III State Champion Monmouth Regional High School team last year, and also excelled in basketball. “Coming from a winning program, starting off 0-11 this year was different, but it didn’t feel like an 0-11 start,’ said Williams. “We were playing very strong competition, and we weren’t playing badly. I guess a record like that comes with these southern trips. It is better preparation for us to play strong teams than to beat up on weak teams. Those teams down south will prepare us much better for the MAAC.”
Williams had some extra incentive today. “I know a lot of the Monmouth players,” said Williams. “I guess I had some extra juices flowing today.”
The Hawks (5-10) had 14 hits off of five Rider pitchers. “We didn’t hit our spots, we pitched from behind, and this is what happens when you pitch like that against a good team, a team that will be a contender in the NEC this year,” said Davis.
Monmouth broke open a 5-0 game with eight runs in the fifth inning on five hits, the biggest hit a grand slam by Nick Massari.
Matt Coulson started and pitched six innings for the win for Monmouth. “The kid threw strikes,” said Davis. “I’ve known Matt for a long time,” said Williams. “I thought to myself, ‘I gotta get him today, because if I don’t I’ll hear about it all summer.’ We played on the same summer team last year (Jersey Shore Angels) and we faced each other in high school.”
Freshman Sean Olson (Vineland, N.J./St. Augustine Prep) doubled for the Broncs. “Olson is swinging a hot bat right now,” said Davis. The double was his third in the last seven games.
Freshman Adam Tussey (Brooklawn, N.J./Gloucester) and seniors Bryan Wagner (Flemington, N.J./North Hunterdon) and Tom Letizia (Fair Lawn, N.J./Fair Lawn) also had hits for Rider.
For Wagner, it was his team-high 25th hit of the season, and he now has 152 career hits, 28th highest ever at Rider.
Rider begins conference play this weekend, hosting Marist for a three-game Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference series, beginning with a 12 noon doubleheader Saturday. Marist is the defending MAAC Champion.
-RU-
