Seton Hall baseball left too many opportunities on the diamond Tuesday afternoon, falling to Rider, 3-2, at Mike Sheppard Sr., Field at Owen T. Carroll Field in South Orange.
The Pirates held a one-run lead through six innings and put consistent pressure on Rider’s pitching staff, but were unable to deliver in key moments, stranding runners in multiple scoring situations.
The Hall opened the scoring in the second inning without recording a hit. Sophomore outfielder Magnus Krieger reached on a fielding error and advanced into scoring position after a walk by junior infielder Frankie Scrivanic. With two outs, Krieger came home on a throwing error by the pitcher, giving the Pirates a 1-0 lead.
SHU had a chance to add to that lead in the third. Junior infielder Gabe Cavazzoni led off the inning with a triple to left field, but the Pirates could not bring him home, as Rider recorded back-to-back strikeouts followed by a groundout to end the threat.
Rider tied the game in the fourth inning. The Broncos’ Evan Hartmann singled to lead off and moved to second on a passed ball before advancing to third on another base hit. A sacrifice fly by Rider’s Anthony Paskell brought him home, evening the score at 1-1.
SHU responded in the bottom half of the inning. Krieger again sparked the offense with a leadoff double and later scored on a sacrifice fly from freshman center Ryan Strnad, putting the Pirates back in front, 2-1.
The Pirates’ best opportunity to create separation came in the fifth. Cavazzoni singled and stole second, graduate infielder Ty Acker walked, and junior infielder Ryan Frontera followed with a single to load the bases with no outs. The Hall was unable to capitalize, however, as a strikeout and two flyouts ended the inning with all three runners left on base.
Rider took its first lead in the seventh inning. After a leadoff walk and a single put two runners on, Nick Shuhet delivered a two-run double to right field, scoring both runners and giving Rider a 3-2 advantage.
The Pirates threatened in the eighth when sophomore outfielder Aiden Dill reached on a bunt single and advanced to third on a throwing error, putting the tying run 90 feet away with no outs. The Hall came up empty, however, as Dill was thrown out at home on a fly ball to right field before two additional outs ended the inning.
In the ninth, Strnad drew a leadoff walk and junior pinch hitter Shea Grady singled to move the tying run into scoring position with one out. Rider closed out the game with a foul out and a flyout, sealing the 3-2 win.
Krieger led the Pirates offensively, reaching base twice, scoring both runs and adding a double. Cavazzoni contributed a triple, a single and a stolen base, but the Pirates were unable to convert their chances, leaving runners on base in nearly every scoring opportunity.
SHU’s pitching staff limited Rider to just a handful of hits, but issued five walks, and the Broncos’ Shuhet’s two-run double in the seventh proved to be the difference.
A BIG EAST showdown awaits the Pirates next as they take on Xavier on Friday back in South Orange.
Colin Comerford is a writer for The Setonian’s Sports Section. He can be reached at colin.comerford@student.shu.edu.
