April 24, 2006 - Rider 5 Niagara 4 (9 innings) / Rider 10 Niagara 6
April 24, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
College Baseball
Rider University 5, Niagara University 4 (9 innings)
Rider University 10, Niagara University 6
LAWRENCEVILLE--The Broncs swept Niagara in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference doubleheader Monday to sweep the three game series and take over first place. “We’re going to try and not think too much about being in first place right now,” said Rider head coach Barry Davis, with a dozen conference games left to play. “We just want to continue to play hard and win one game at a time.”
In the first game, senior Bryan Wagner (Flemington, N.J./North Hunterdon) reached base on a single in the bottom of the ninth inning of the scheduled seven-inning contest, his second hit of the game, and stole second base to set up the game-winning hit by senior Mike Poalise (Hammonton). “I just wanted to put the ball in play,” said Poalise. “I knew he was coming with the slider. He has a hard slider but he caught too much of the plate with that one.”
“Mike has been our most consistent hitter,” said Davis. Poalise and sophomore Jeff Reynolds (Denville/Parsippany Hills) also had two hits in the first game.
Freshman Mike Petrowski (Hamilton Square/Steinert) pitched the final two innings of relief, striking out two and allowing just one hit, for his second win of the season.
Rider took a 3-0 lead in the second inning on RBI singles by junior Scott Knazek (Browns Mills/Pemberton), Reynolds and Wagner. Rider took a 4-3 lead in the fifth inning on a sacrifice fly by Poalise.
In the second game, the battle for first place, Rider (17-22, 11-4 MAAC) scored four runs in the seventh inning to take a 9-6 lead. Poalise singled and scored the game-winning run on a sacrifice fly. Poalise had two hits in the second game and four on the day. Poalise raised his team-high batting average to .378, with a team-high 56 hits.
Senior Gene Crimoli (Shrewsbury/Christina Brothers Academy) hit a solo home run in the fourth inning to cut the Niagara (19-17, 10-5 MAAC) lead to 4-3. “That was a big hit by Gene,” said Davis. The home run was Crimoli’s sixth of the season, team-high, and the 14th of his career, 18th highest ever at Rider.
Rider tied the score at 4-4 on an RBI single by freshman Mo Williams (Tinton Falls/Monmouth Regional), who had two hits and two RBI in the second game. “Mo had a big hit for us as well,” Davis said.
Rider plays at Monmouth in a non-conference game Tuesday.
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