April 29, 2006 - Rider 11 Saint Peter's 3 / Rider 13 Saint Peter's 1
April 29, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
College Baseball
Rider University 11, Saint Peter's College 3
Rider University 13, Saint Peter's College 1
LAWRENCEVILLE--The first place Broncs scored 24 runs and banged out 28 hits to sweep Saint Peter’s in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference doubleheader Saturday. “We swung the bats pretty good today and we got good pitching,” said Rider head coach Barry Davis. “That’s a good combination.”
Sophomore pitcher Will O’Connor (Cinnaminson) gave up a run on three hits in the very first inning of the day, and then didn’t allow another run until the ninth inning for the win. O’Connor improved to 6-0 on the season, the first Rider pitcher to win six games in a season since James Hoey went 6-4 in 2003. Hoey is currently playing minor league baseball (A) in the South Atlantic League. O’Connor did not allow a walk in nine innings of work. “That is the best stat of the day,” said Davis, “no walks.”
In the first game, Rider scored three runs in the first inning on four hits, the biggest hit a two-run single by junior Scott Knazek (Browns Mills/Pemberton). Knazek had a double and three RBI in the first game.
Rider broke open a 5-1 game with four runs in the fifth inning on four hits, led by a two-run double by freshman Jamie Hayes (Sunrise, Fla./Piper). Hayes had two doubles and three RBI in the first game.
In the second game, freshman pitcher Jimmer Kennedy (Levittown, PA/Holy Ghost Prep) allowed just three hits and one unearned run while striking out six for the seven-inning complete game. Of the 80 pitches Kennedy threw, 75 were fastballs, ranging between 85 and 92 miles per hour. “Kennedy had good stuff today,” said Davis. “He had good velocity today and had just one walk, which is big.”
“I felt pretty good today,” said Kennedy, who improves to 5-2 on the season. “Basically, I was just throwing my fastball until they proved they could hit it.” The proof never came.
Sophomore Jeff Reynolds (Denville/Parsippany Hills) had three hits and four RBI in the second game, including a two-run single in the third inning that gave Rider (19-23, 13-4 MAAC) a 5-1 lead. “Jeff plugs away, works hard, and is improving,” said Davis. “People look at his size (5’7”, 170) and probably think he is too small, but he is showing he can play at this level.”
Reynolds was the designated hitter the first game and had one hit, a walk and a sacrifice bunt, and played second base in the second game and had three hits. “I’ll play wherever the coach puts me, as long as I can contribute” said Reynolds. “When I’m playing the field it keeps me in the game more mentally.”
“Jeff has accepted the designated hitter role,” said Davis, “and he continues to do the job when we put him out at second base.”
Senior Mike Poalise (Hammonton) had six hits and three RBI in the doubleheader while scoring five runs, while senior Gene Crimoli (Shrewsbury/Christina Brothers Academy) had four hits and scored four runs in the doubleheader. “Everyone swung the bat well today,” said Reynolds.
The third game of the series will be played Sunday at 12 noon, also at Rider.
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