Brian Moskey's Ninth-Inning Double Puts QU Baseball Back Atop the MAAC

Thursday, May 17

Hamden, Conn.

3:00 PM

Quinnipiac University

24-27, 15-7

Rider

11-34, 6-15

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Quinnipiac	1	0	0	3	0	0	0	1	3	8	12	0
Rider	1	0	0	0	0	3	0	1	1	6	10	0

Brian Moskey's Ninth-Inning Double Puts QU Baseball Back Atop the MAAC

5/17/2018 6:45:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: QU Athletic Communications

HAMDEN, Conn. — Junior center fielder Brian Moskey broke a 5-5 tie in the top of the ninth inning with a two-run double as the Quinnipiac baseball team returned to its spot alone atop the MAAC standings with an 8-6 win over Rider on Thursday afternoon at Quinnipiac Baseball Field.

With the win, the Bobcats improve to 24-27 overall and 15-7 in the MAAC. Quinnipiac came into the day in a three-way tie for first at 14-7 with Marist and Monmouth, after having sole possession of first place since starting out conference play 8-0. Marist was swept at Canisius to fall out of the tie, and Monmouth's game with Fairfield was postponed, leaving the Hawks a half-game behind the Bobcats (but still tied in the loss column). Quinnipiac can now clinch the top seed in the MAAC Tournament with two wins tomorrow against Rider in a doubleheader that will now begin at 11 a.m. (moved up an hour from its original 12 p.m. scheduled time).

The series was originally scheduled to be played at Rider, but was moved to Hamden due to extensive rain in New Jersey. As a result, Rider was still playing as the home team and batting second, despite playing on Quinnipiac's field. The Bobcats took a 5-4 lead in the top of the eighth on a sacrifice fly from freshman second baseman Ian Ostberg, but Rider answered with a run in the bottom half to knot the score at 5-5. The Broncs had the go-ahead run at third, but senior closer Mike Davis was able to leave the runner stranded with a pop-up.

Quinnipiac saw the bottom of its order set the table in the ninth inning, as senior catcher Anthony Cruz, the No. 7 hitter, led off with a single up the middle. Junior designated hitter Kyle Horton, who earlier in the game had put Quinnipiac ahead 4-1 with a three-run homer, coaxed a walk on a 3-2 pitch to put runners on first and second. Junior shortstop Kevin Huscher followed with a perfect bunt down the third-base line to beat out an infield single and load the bases with nobody out.

Rider reliever Zach Gakeler got the first out of the inning on a strikeout, and had the count at 1-2 on Moskey, who fouled off several pitches to stay in the at-bat. He was finally able to turn on one and drive it down the left-field line, where the only issue was whether it would stay fair. After an anxious moment to wait for the umpire's signal, the Bobcat dugout erupted with the fair call that gave them a 7-5 lead once the ball rolled into dead-ball territory. Quinnipiac added another insurance run on a wild pitch to take an 8-5 lead into the bottom of the ninth.

Rider tried to battle back again, as right fielder Joe Simone hit a one-out double, and a single from Brennan McAllister brought the tying run to the plate. Davis, though, was able to get a routine sacrifice fly to center for the second out, and then he ended the game with a strikeout to get the win in relief and improve to 2-1 on the year (with six saves).

Quinnipiac got off to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on an RBI single from sophomore third baseman Evan Vulgamore, but Rider answered in the bottom half with a sacrifice fly. Horton's first career homer in the top of the fourth, a three-run shot off the scoreboard in right-center, gave the Bobcats a 4-1 lead, which felt comfortable as senior pitcher Taylor Luciani settled in. However, Kyle Johnson, who had come on as a defensive replacement at third base an inning prior, hit a three-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the sixth to tie it.

Moskey, Vulgamore, Cruz and Huscher each had two hits for the Bobcats. McAllister led all players with three hits for the Broncs (3-for-4). Luciani ended with a no-decision on the mound for Quinnipiac, but finished the regular season undefeated in league play (6-0 MAAC). With an 8-2 record overall, he remains tied for the program's single-season wins record at the Division I level.

The two teams will complete their three-game series tomorrow at 11 a.m. With two wins, the Bobcats would clinch no worse than a tie for first place with Monmouth, but Quinnipiac would have the tiebreaker due to a head-to-head sweep. One win would also clinch a top-two seed and an opening-round bye in next week's MAAC Tournament, which begins on Wednesday at Richmond County Bank Ballpark on Staten Island.