Lawrenceville, N.J. – Karl Johnston had four hits and scored five runs to lead Rider to a doubleheader sweep of the Le Moyne College baseball team on Saturday afternoon at Sonny Pittaro Field. The Broncs took the opener, 11-4, and won the nightcap, 7-3.

In the opener, the Dolphins jumped out to a 1-0 lead by scoring on two hits in the first inning. Sophomore right fielder Brett Botsford (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker) led off the game with a single up the middle. Following a pair of outs, sophomore shortstop Matt Marra (Brewerton, N.Y./Central Square) singled to right field to knock in Botsford from second.

In the bottom of the frame, Rider evened the score without needing to record a hit. Johnston walked with one out, stole second and third and scored on a throwing error by the pitcher.

The Broncs took the lead with three runs on five hits in the third inning. Johnston led off with a single up the middle and moved to third on a single through the right side by A.J. Albee. Mason Heyne then doubled to left to drive in Johnston and Albee. After a single to the shortstop by Nick Wojnowski, Adam Wayman singled to right to plate Heyne from third.

Le Moyne closed to within 4-3 with single runs in the fifth and sixth innings. In the fifth, redshirt freshman Ryan Mahoney (Clay, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse) doubled down the left field line to open the frame. After a pair of outs, Botsford singled to right field to score Mahoney. In the sixth, senior left fielder Chris Edmondson (Johnson City, N.Y./Johnson City) led off with a single down the left field line and advanced to second on a wild pitch. After a single by Marra and an out, Edmondson scored on a groundout by classmate Sean Paino (Wappinger Falls, N.Y./Roy C. Ketcham).

Rider regained control of the game with five runs on four hits and an error in the seventh inning. Steve Galella singled and Brandon Cotten reached on a fielder's choice to open the inning. After a strikeout and a single by Albee to load the bases, Heyne singled up the middle to drive home Galella and Cotten. Following a walk to Wojnowski and a second Le Moyne pitching change of the inning, Wayman singled to left center to knock in Albee. John Ralston then grounded out to score Heyne, while Wojnowski scored when Wayman was caught in a rundown.

The Dolphins got one run back in the top of the eighth, but the Broncs scored twice in the bottom of the inning to cap the game's scoring. Edmondson singled to right and Marra doubled to right center to open the inning. Two batters later, Paino drove in Edmondson with a groundout. Eric Woodrow walked and later scored on a balk for Rider's 10th run, while Johnston scored the game's final run after reaching on an infield single.

Junior southpaw Cory Nelson (Manlius, N.Y./Fayetteville-Manlius) took the loss for the Dolphins after allowing seven runs (six earned) on nine hits over six and one-third innings, while striking out six batters. Mike Thomas earned the victory by scattering nine hits and four runs over eight innings, while registering eight strikeouts. Marra recorded three hits in the game for the Dolphins, while Edmondson and Botsford each posted a pair. For the Broncs, Albee and Heyne each had three hits, while Johnston, Wojnowski and Wayman had two hits apiece.

In the nightcap, Rider jumped in front by scoring twice on two hits in the first inning. Cotten and Johnston singled and Albee walked to load the bases at the beginning of the frame. After Cotten scored on a wild pitch, Johnston scored from third on a sacrifice fly to right field by Heyne.

The Broncs increased their lead with a run on one hit in the third inning. Wojnowski drew a walk with two outs, stole second and scored on a single to right center by Wayman.

Rider put the game out of reach with four runs on four hits in the fifth frame. The Broncs loaded the bases without any outs as Johnston singled up the middle, Albee was hit by a pitch and Heyne walked. After Wojnowski singled to right to drive in Johnston, Ralston singled down the left field line to plate Albee and Heyne. Following a Le Moyne pitching change, Mike O'Reilly singled to left field to knock in Wojnowski with the inning's final run.

The Dolphins rallied for three runs on three hits in the seventh inning, but could not get any closer. Paino led off with a single up the middle, but was retired as Mahoney reached base. Senior pinch-hitter Rich Brown (Vestal, N.Y./Vestal) followed with a single and sophomore designated hitter Matthew Ciraco (White Plains, N.Y./Perkiomen School) walked to load the bases. Two batters later, Botsford doubled to left center to drive in Mahoney, Brown and Ciraco. Rider starter Mike Murphy then induced a fly out to end the game.

Sophomore lefty Mark Kuzma (Waverly, N.Y./Waverly) took the loss after yielding seven runs on seven hits over four and one-third innings. Edmondson and freshman Brian Stinson (Binghamton, N.Y./Chenango Valley) each had two hits in the contest for Le Moyne. Murphy earned his third win of the year by striking out three batters over seven innings, while allowing three runs on eight hits. Ralston and Johnston posted two hits each for Rider.

Le Moyne (28-27), which swept the Broncs in a three-game series in 2008, finished the year with a winning record for the 13th straight year.