March 25, 2006 - Rider 9 Marist 7 / Marist 5 Rider 3
March 25, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
College Baseball
Rider University 9, Marist College 7
Marist College 5, Rider University 3
LAWRENCEVILLE—The Broncs split a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference doubleheader with defending MAAC Champion Marist Saturday. “Marist is a good team,” said Rider head coach Barry Davis. “If they are a top four team in the MAAC this year, then we have to feel good about our effort today.”
In the first game, sophomore Will O’Connor (Cinnaminson) pitched eight innings for the win, allowing five earned runs while striking out three. “We got a solid effort from Will today,’ said Davis. “Any time you can get eight strong innings from your starter in the first game of the series, it takes a load off the bullpen,” said Davis.
“I felt good today, best I’ve felt all year,” said O’Connor, who improves to 1-0 in his fifth outing of the season, his third start. “My change-up was moving a lot and I was able to use it a lot.”
“Will kept them off balance,” Davis said. “He’s deceiving. If he can throw like that every weekend we’ll be just fine.”
Freshman Sean Olson (Vineland, N.J./St. Augustine Prep) hit a two-run double in the seventh inning to give Rider a 5-4 lead, Rider’s first lead of the game. “Olson had a big hit for us,” said Davis.
Rider took a 9-4 lead in the eighth inning when senior Tom Letizia (Fair Lawn) doubled and scored on a double by freshman Maurice Williams (Tinton Falls, N.J./Monmouth Regional). “Mo swung the bat well again today,” Davis said.
Sophomore Jeff Reynolds (Denville/Parsippany Hills) also hit an RBI single in the eighth.
Olson and Letizia each had two hits, as did senior Mike Poalise (Hammonton, N.J./Hammonton) and senior Gene Crimoli (Shrewsbury/Christian Brothers Academy).
Freshman Jamie Hayes (Sunrise, Fla./Piper) came in from right field to pitch the ninth, earning the save.
In the second game, Rider (4-15, 1-1 MAAC) took a 2-1 lead in the third inning on three hits and an error, but Marist (5-12, 1-1 MAAC) scored two runs in the fifth inning on two hits, a walk and a hit batsman to take a 4-2 lead.
Senior Bryan Wagner (Flemington, N.J./North Hunterdon), Williams and Olson each had two hits in the second game.
The third game of the series is Sunday at 12 noon, also at Rider. “It’s nice to win that first one, but we’ve got a big game tomorrow,” said Davis. “At home you’d like to win two of three.”
-RU-
