April 15, 2006 - Rider 12 Iona 6 / Rider 8 Iona 2
April 15, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
College Baseball
Rider University 12, Iona College 6
Rider University 8, Iona College 2
NEW ROCHELLE, NY—The Broncs swept Iona in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference doubleheader Saturday for their fourth and fifth consecutive conference road wins. “Any time you win two on the road in the MAAC you have to be happy,” said Rider head coach Barry Davis.
In the first game, Rider trailed 2-0 before scoring five runs in the fifth inning on seven hits, as junior Scott Knazek (Browns Mills, N.J./Pemberton) hit a two-run home run, and seniors Mike Poalise (Hammonton, N.J./Hammonton) and Gene Crimoli (Shrewsbury/CBA) hit RBI doubles. “That five-run inning was big for us,” said Davis. “We stumbled around for four innings before that, and after that we seemed to relax and swing the bat well the rest of the day.”
Poalise had three hits, while senior Tom Letizia (Fair Lawn, N.J./Fair Lawn) and freshman Adam Tussey (Brooklawn/Gloucester) each had four hits, as the Broncs banged out 21 hits in the first game. Knazek had two home runs and three RBI for the Broncs. “We swung it a little bit today,’ said Davis.
Sophomore Will O’Connor (Cinnaminson) pitched six innings, allowing two runs to improve to 4-0 on the season. “Willie didn’t have his best stuff, but we won,” said Davis. “That’s how you get to be 4-0, winning even when you don’t have your best stuff. He’s really done the job for us so far this year.”
In the second game, Rider (13-20, 8-3 MAAC) took a 3-0 lead in the second inning when freshman Jamie Hayes (Sunrise, Fla./Piper) hit a two-run home run. “Hayes also took a three-run home run away from them with a great catch to end the first game,” Davis said.
Rider took a 6-1 lead in the fourth inning on a two-run single by Crimoli. “Gene had another good day at the plate,” Davis said. Crimoli had three hits and three RBI in the doubleheader.
Freshman Jimmer Kennedy (Levittown, PA/Holy Ghost Prep) struck out six in a seven-inning complete game, allowing just one earned run. “Kennedy was strong again today,” said Davis. Kennedy has won four of his last five decisions and is 4-2 on the season.
Tussey had six of Rider’s 32 hits on the day. “32 hits, that’s THREE good games for us, let alone 16 innings,” Davis said.
Rider will look to extend its conference winning streak Monday, when the third game of the series, rained out on Friday, will be played 3:00 pm at Iona (4-26, 2-9 MAAC). “That’s a positive sign, winning five in a row on the road in the conference,” said Davis. “That says that we’re not afraid to go on the road and compete.”
-RU-
