March 26, 2008

Box Score

LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. - The Rider University Broncs scored twice in the seventh inning and once in the eighth to earn an 8-5 victory over the Saint Joseph's baseball team on Wednesday afternoon. The loss drops the Hawks to 8-14 on the season.

SJU drew first blood, putting a run on the board in the top of the first inning. After Drew Smith reached on a two-out walk, Chris Hildreth brought him in with a triple to put the Hawks in front.

Rider (9-9) answered with five runs on the bottom of the third, chasing sophomore starter Pat Monaghan from the game. Five hits, including a two-run triple, did the damage for the Broncs.

The Hawks managed to tie the game up with a four-spot in the fifth. Joe Cook led off the inning with a double to right center and advanced to third on a single by Tim Smith. Mike Coleman, getting the start in left field, singled home Cook to make it a 5-2 game. With runners on first and third, a groundball double play let Smith score to cut the deficit to two. Three straight walks then loaded the bases before Brian Hartsell unloaded them with a two-out, two-run single to right field to tie the game.

Unfortunately for the visitors, the momentum would not continue as Maurice Williams hit a two-run home run in the seventh to put the Broncs back up, 7-5. An RBI double in the eighth set the final score at 8-5.

Righthander Mark Dolaghan (0-1) took the loss for SJU, while Rider's Kris Brown (2-1) earned the win. James Hayes notched his fourth save of the season for the Broncs.

Saint Joseph's will have a day off before returning to action with a weekend Atlantic 10 series against crosstown-rival Temple at Latshaw-McCarthy Field.