April 19, 2006 - Monmouth 9 Rider 6
April 19, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
College Baseball
Monmouth University 9, Rider University 6
LAWRENCEVILLE—It is said that one of the more difficult things to do in all of sports is to beat a team three times in one season. That is what happened to the Rider baseball team Wednesday, losing to Monmouth for the third time this season. “We play them one more time, so that gives us a goal to shoot for, beating Monmouth this year,” said Rider head coach Barry Davis.
Rider (14-22) scored two runs in the fifth inning, as freshman Mo Williams (Tinton Falls/Monmouth Regional) hit an RBI double, and Rider scored two more runs in the seventh inning on a two-run single by sophomore Jeff Reynolds (Denville/Parsippany Hills), to cut the lead to 7-6, but that was as close as the Broncs could get. “We got down early, but we battled back and cut it to one, that showed me something,” said Davis.
Williams had three of Rider’s 14 hits, while Reynolds had two hits along with his two RBI, and made an outstanding diving catch in the first inning from his second base position on a fly ball hit down the right field line. “Reynolds did a good job today,” said Davis. “That was a big-time catch he made.”
Monmouth (19-11), which has won six in a row and 16 of its last 17 games, scored six runs in the fourth inning on seven hits to take a 6-1 lead. Chris Collazo had a two-run double in the fourth. Pat Sullivan had three of Monmouth’s 15 hits, and scored three runs. “They’re a good club,” Davis said. “That one inning got away from us a little bit, but it was good execution on their part.”
Senior Gene Crimoli (Shrewsbury/CBA) hit an RBI single in the first inning to give Rider a 1-0 lead.
Junior Scott Knazek (Browns Mills, N.J./Pemberton) doubled and scored in the seventh inning for the Broncs.
Freshman Jamie Hayes (Sunrise, Fla./Piper), senior Tom Letizia (Fair Lawn, N.J./Fair Lawn) and senior Mike Poalise (Hammonton) also had two hits each for Rider. “We swung the bats, but after four innings we had nine this but only two runs,” Davis said. Monmouth turned three double plays in the first three innings, and Rider left 12 runners on base for the game.
Rider hosts Niagara in a three-game MAAC series this weekend, beginning with a 12 noon doubleheader Saturday.
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