May 15, 2006 - Rider Clinches Playoff Spot

May 15, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

College Baseball
Rider Clinches Playoff Spot
Battles for First Place at LeMoyne

LAWRENCEVILLE—With two victories over Canisius, combined with Marist’s three losses to LeMoyne this weekend, the Rider University baseball team can finish no lower than fourth place in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, the conference confirmed on Monday. “Relief,” stated Rider head coach Barry Davis, upon hearing the official word Monday after speculating Rider had clinched. “This is a goal we set early on, and now it is certainly nice to have achieved it.”

Rider (25-26, 17-7 MAAC) is currently in second place and will battle LeMoyne (33-12, 18-5 MAAC) for the regular season title Thursday and Friday with a three-game series in Syracuse. Rider would have to sweep LeMoyne for first place. “It would have been nice being just one game back,” Davis said. “That would obviously have put us in a better position to win the regular season. We’ve won every series but two, but we’ve only swept three.”

As of Monday morning, Manhattan (15-8), Niagara (12-9), Marist (13-10) and Siena (10-11) were battling for the last two remaining playoff spots. “We can’t pick who we’re going to play,” said Davis. “We’re not good enough to orchestrate the pairings.”

The four-team championship tournament is May 25-27 at Dutchess Stadium in Fishkill, NY, hosted by Marist. “We’re playing LeMoyne in a minor league park this week, so that will give us a little taste for Dutchess Stadium.”

Rider last made the trip to Fishkill in 2002, losing to host Marist in the Championship Game. Rider also lost to Marist in the 2001 MAAC Title Game. “It would be nice to be the top seed, but I’ll take second, third or fourth,” said Davis. “I said that in the beginning of the season and I’ll say it again. Our goal was to get in, and we got in. Once you’re in, anything can happen. Someone has to win it, why not us?”

-RU-