GAME 9: No. 5 Rider - 11 | No. 6 Niagara - 8
CLOVER STADIUM | POMONA, NY
Box Score
Rider was beating Niagara, 5-3 before the game was halted in the fifth inning due to inclement weather. Niagara rallied back in the seventh to score four runs and take the 7-5 lead. However, Rider responded in the bottom half by way of a Jake Barbiere double to center, but a Dawson Bailey blast to right for Niagara brought the Purple Eagles’ lead back to two.
In the bottom of the eighth, John Volpe doubled deep down the right field line to bring the Broncs within one. Following the double, Rider had second and third with nobody out and Socrates Bardatsos up. Bardatsos drew a walk, but the ball got away bringing home Jack Winsett to tie the game. The next batter, Luke Lesch hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Volpe and take the lead. Barbiere then doubled to shallow right field to score Bardatsos before Alex Diamantis laid down a beautiful bunt to third base to score Brian Skettini.
Cal Stalzer who earned the victory on Thursday, throwing 5.2 no-hit innings on 97 pitches entered the game in seventh. Stalzer threw the final 1.2 innings, allowing one hit to earn the win.
With the win, Rider will play Canisius at 11 am. If Rider wins, they force a decisive Game 11, but if Canisius wins they earn the 2022 MAAC Baseball Championship.
Rider Notes and Notables
- Rider advances to their second consecutive MAAC Championship Final after winning last year’s championship over Fairfield, 7-2.
- Brendan O’Donnell hit two home runs in the game including a second inning blast that broke Fairfield’s single-season home run record (18).
- Barbiere went 3-4 with two doubles, two RBI, and a walk.
- Jack Winsett hit a solo home run in the third inning.
- Kyle Smith threw 3.1 innings in relief, allowing on unearned run.
- Volpe went 2-3 with two runs and an RBI.
Niagara Notes and Notables
- Niagara finishes their season going 22-32 and 13-11 in MAAC play.
- The Purple Eagles were the first six seed to win three games in the MAAC Baseball Championships and the first ever six seed to advance to the final game of the elimination bracket.
- Dawson Bailey and Benny Serrano each homered.
- Cole O’Connor, Cole Tucker and Spencer Marcus each recorded two hits.
- In the five games, Bailey hit .454 with 10 hits, three home runs, recorded six RBI, 10 runs, a double, and two walks.
- Cole O’Connor hit .600 throughout the five games of the tournament with 12 hits and Serrano hit .471 with seven hits.
For more information regarding the 2022 MAAC Baseball Championships and to purchase tickets,
visit maacsports.com or use the ticketing link found
here.
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 11 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 41st year of competition during the 2021-22 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona College, Manhattan College, Marist College, Monmouth University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College.
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