College Baseball: New Jersey Institute of Technology 4, Rider University 3; Rider University 5, New Jersey Institute of Technology 0

LAWRENCEVILLE — Sophomore Kurt Sowa (Bensalem, Pa./Father Judge) threw a two-hit complete game shutout as the Rider University baseball team salvaged a non-conference split against the New Jersey Institute of Technology on Saturday afternoon (March 23) at Sonny Pittaro Field.

Rider won the nightcap 5-0 after losing the opener 4-3.

Sowa threw 110 pitches (73 strikes) in picking up his fourth win of the season and recorded nine strikeouts in the seven inning game.

Rider (9-9) opened the second inning with four straight singles, including run scoring hits by sophomore Greg Fazio (Far Hills/Ridge) and senior Richie Garcia (Franklin Square, N.Y./Valley Stream North) as the Broncs led 2-0.  NJIT turned a double play with Fazio scoring for the third Rider run.

Fazio was two for three with two runs scored in the second game and he had four hits and three runs scored on the day.

Fazio began the next Bronc rally with a one-out infield single in the fourth inning, eventually coming around to score on an RBI single by junior Ken Kremer (Hershey, Pa./Hershey).  Kremer was one for one with an RBI and a walk in the second game.

Garcia scored on a fielder’s choice in the fourth inning as the Broncs extended their lead to 5-0. 

Also for Rider in game two, sophomore Justin Thomas had two of the eight Bronc hits.

In the opener, NJIT (6-11) took advantage of four Rider errors to score two unearned runs in a one-run win over the Broncs.

Rider took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning on an RBI single by sophomore Eric Strano (Robbinsville), scoring Mike Parsons (Liverpool, N.Y./Liverpool) who led off the inning with a double.

The Highlanders used a two-out single to right field to score an unearned run in the top of the fourth inning, tying the game 1-1.

NJIT opened up a 3-1 lead in the top of the fifth inning on three hits and another Bronc error.

Rider extended the bottom of the fifth inning on an NJIT error and got to within 3-2 on a double play ground out.

The Highlanders pushed their lead to 4-2 with a one-out RBI double in the top of the seventh inning.  An RBI single by senior Ian Lindsay (Oaklyn/Haddon Township) got Rider to back within one run (4-3) in the bottom half of the seventh.

Lindsay had two of Rider’s seven hits in the opener.

Senior Tyler Smith (Westmont/Haddon Twp.) went six innings, recording six strikeouts and he allowed only one earned run in picking up the loss.

Rider travels to NJIT on Sunday for the final game of the three-game set.

The Broncs return home Tuesday to face Rutgers at 3:30pm.