Balanced Effort Leads Pirates Past Rider, 5-3

Tuesday, May 8

South Orange, N.J.

4:00 PM

Seton Hall University

24-16-1

Rider

11-30

Rider

Seton Hall

5/8/2018 7:59:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score HOME INFO BOX SCORE

SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. – Four Pirates collected at least two hits and seven pitchers combined to limit the Broncs offense as the Seton Hall baseball team defeated Rider, 5-3, on Tuesday, in its final midweek game of the season.

Seton Hall wasted little time in taking an early lead, breaking through with a run in the bottom of the first inning. With one out, Sebastiano Santorelli (Tuckahoe, N.Y.), Al Molina (Freehold, N.Y.) and Mike Alescio (Fair Haven, N.J.) hit back-to-back-to-back singles, the last of which drove in the first run of the game.

In the top of the third inning, the Broncs tied the game with some two-out hitting against Seton Hall starter Tyler Burnham (East Brunswick, N.J.).

Turning Point:
In the bottom of the third inning, Santorelli reached first base on a fielding error by Rider first baseman Riley Mihalik. Molina followed with his BIG EAST-leading 17^th double of the season, down the left field line, which scored Santorelli from first base, and gave the Pirates the lead for good.

The Hall added single insurance runs in the bottom of the fourth, fifth and eighth innings.

Inside the Numbers:

Burnham picked up the victory, allowing just one unearned run over three innings with two strikeouts.
Santorelli reached base three times, going 2-for-4 with a walk, an RBI and a team-high three runs scored.
Molina went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI.
Tyler Shedler-McAvoy (Allendale, N.J.) reached base three times, going 2-for-4 with a walk and two stolen bases.
Junior Chris Villa (Staten Island, N.Y.) went 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI and a run scored.
Alescio reached base three times, going 1-for-3 with two walks, an RBI and a stolen base.
Sophomore Noah Thompson (Frisco, Texas) tossed two hitless innings with three strikeouts.
Blake Espinal (Bronx, N.Y.), Hunter Waldis (Far Hills, N.J.) and Dylan Verdonk (Losser, Netherlands) all pitched a scoreless inning. Verdonk struck out the side.
Junior Matt Ponsiglione (Staten Island, N.Y.) needed only one pitch to collect his first career save.
Freshman Jerry Huntzinger (Staten Island, N.Y.) threw out a runner attempting to steal third base to end the game with the tying runs on base.
Seton Hall had 11 hits, while Rider had seven. Both teams committed two errors.
Seton Hall left 13 men on base, while the Broncs left five.
Rider's Joe Papeo took the loss. He allowed four runs over 4.2 innings.

News & Notes:

The victory improves Seton Hall to 24-16-1 overall, while Rider falls to 11-30.
Seton Hall improves to 36-17 all-time against Rider and has won seven straight games in the series.
Molina's double today gives him a BIG EAST-leading 17 for the season. The Seton Hall record for doubles in a single season is 24, held by David Kim and current assistant coach Giuseppe Papaccio.
After today's game, Seton Hall's team ERA is down to a season-best 4.16.
Seton Hall reached double-figures in hits for the 15^th time this season.

Next Up:
Seton Hall will return to action on Friday when it begins a series with local BIG EAST rival St. John's. The three-game set will determine first place in the BIG EAST Conference. First pitch is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. ET.