March 26, 2006 - Rider 9 Marist 3
March 26, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
College Baseball
Rider University 9, Marist College 3
LAWRENCEVILLE—The Broncs defeated defending Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Champion Marist Sunday to take the first MAAC series of the season two games to one. “That’s a big win,” said Rider head coach Barry Davis. “Marist is traditionally a top team in the MAAC, so to take two of three from them is a plus.”
Freshman pitcher Jim Kennedy (Levittown, PA/Holy Ghost Prep) pitched eight innings for his second victory in a week. “Kennedy pitched well,” said Davis. “There were a couple of times he could have folded but never did. He has enough velocity to get away with a mistake or two.”
Kennedy was throwing between 85 and 88 mph Sunday with his four-seam fastball. “That’s about where I’ve been all year,” said Kennedy, who chose Rider over Virginia Military Institute and La Salle. “My velocity has been good so far.”
Kennedy allowed just two earned runs and struck out four while walking just one. “Strikeouts are nice but one walk, that is the stat that stands out to me,” said Davis. “One walk is great.” It was the second consecutive start that Kennedy pitched eight innings. “I wanted to get the compete game, but my pitch count was up (125),” said Kennedy. Kennedy defeated St. Joseph’s on March 21 for his first collegiate win. “Jim has kept us in every game he has pitched so far,” Davis said.
Rider (5-15, 2-1 MAAC) broke open a 3-3 game with six runs in the seventh inning on five hits, the biggest hit a two-run double by freshman Jamie Hayes (Sunrise, Fla./Piper). “We put some hits together today,” Davis said.
Seniors Tom Letizia (Fair Lawn) and Mike Poalise (Hammonton, N.J./Hammonton) also had RBI singles in the seventh inning. Poalise had four hits in the game, including a double, and a pair of RBI.
Rider took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on Poalise’s RBI single, and took a 3-1 lead in the fourth inning when Poalise doubled and scored on a double by sophomore Jeff Reynolds (Denville/Parsippany Hills). Reynolds had three hits in the game.
Marist (5-13, 1-2 MAAC) tied the score at 3-3 with two runs in the top of the sixth inning on three hits and a Rider error.
Rider plays at Rutgers Tuesday, and returns home Wednesday to host former Northeast Conference-foe Long Island University. “We’ve been good at home,” Davis said.
-RU-
