FAIRFIELD, CT – Monmouth University Baseball (24-12) was defeated in the late innings Wednesday by Rider University (21-16) in the 2021 MAAC Tournament by a 9-5 count. Monmouth is now moved to the elimination portion of the bracket with the defeat.
 
After Rider plated three in the second on a series of infield hits and a sac fly, MU answered with two in the bottom half. With two down, Dixon Black (Archbald, PA/Valley View) and Harry Padden (Pittsgrove, NJ/AP Schalick) singled before Zach Schild (Lincroft, NJ/Middletown South) drove them both in with a hard liner over the center fielder and to the wall. Rider got one in the fourth, but Stephen Aldrich (Bensalem, PA/Bensalem) came out of the pen to roll up a 4-6-3 double play and end the threat.
 
Monmouth took the lead with three in the fifth, getting the first two aboard ahead of a fielder's choice that was thrown off Graber's helmet on the way to third and bounded away, allowing him to score. James Harmstead (Manasquan, NJ/Manasquan) was next, and grounded one to third that was thrown away, scoring two more to give MU the lead.
 
Aldrich retired 10 in a row at one point and didn't allow a run after entering in the fourth through the seventh. In the eighth, Rider loaded the bases and scored four times via a sac fly and two doubles to take an 8-5 advantage, and added one in the ninth to win it 9-5.
 
NOTES AND QUOTES
 
"Not the outcome we wanted today. We fell behind, took the lead in the middle of the game and then we were unable to hold it.  Steve Aldrich threw well and Graber played a gritty game. We are going to have to stay hungry, have a solid mentality and fire our best shot moving forward." – Head Coach Dean Ehehalt
 
-Dixon Black posted his first career four-hit game.
-Matt Graber notched his third multi-hit game of the season.
-Six Hawks made their MAAC Tournament debuts.
-Five different Hawks scored runs.
-MU is now 6-11 all time in MAAC Tournament games.

NUMBERS CRUNCH
-Stephen Aldrich took the loss after throwing 3.1 scoreless innings before allowing the lead run in the eighth.
-Sebastian Williamson got the win for Rider out of the bullpen, while Cal Stalzer earned the save.
-Rider made all three of the errors in the game.

UP NEXT
-Monmouth will play #1 Fairfield in an elimination game on Thursday at 11:00 a.m. The game will air on ESPN+.