LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP, N.J. (Interstat) — The Rider Broncs rallied for two runs in the sixth inning Friday afternoon to defeat the Saint Peter’s Peacocks 4-3 at Sonny Pittaro Field in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game.

Saint Peter’s, which entered with a 5-46 record, matched Rider hit for hit early but could not overcome a middle-inning deficit. The Broncs improved to 28-17.

Rider starter Kyle Batt worked 5 1/3 innings, allowing eight hits and two earned runs while striking out five. Jake Dorety earned the win with 2 2/3 innings of relief, giving up two hits and one earned run with three strikeouts. Connor Flynn closed with a perfect ninth, striking out two.

For Saint Peter’s, James Ellis started and pitched six innings, allowing three earned runs with one strikeout despite not surrendering a hit. The Peacocks used Zaine Toneske and Jackson Thorne for one scoreless inning each.

Saint Peter’s struck first in the top of the third inning. With one out, Louis D’Ales singled and stole second. Alex Manent doubled down the left-field line to drive in D’Ales, and Bobby Lavely followed with an RBI single to right, bringing Manent home and giving the Peacocks a 2-0 lead.

Rider had taken an early advantage in the bottom of the first. Will Gallagher walked and scored on a double to right-center by Kyle Neri, making it 1-0. In the second, Mike Leahy reached on a fielding error by the third baseman and scored on a double down the left-field line by AJ Labrusciano, putting the Broncs ahead 2-0.

The game turned in the bottom of the sixth. Neri walked, and Aidan Paskell was hit by a pitch. Nick Shuhet singled to load the bases. Connor Magoulic reached on a fielder’s choice, driving in Neri to tie the score 2-2. After a strikeout, Leahy singled to third base, plating Paskell to give Rider a 3-2 lead. Labrusciano then grounded into a fielder’s choice, but Leahy advanced to second for the second run of the inning, making it 4-2.

Saint Peter’s pulled within one in the top of the eighth. Luke Schwart doubled to left field and scored on a single to center by Max Doninger, cutting the deficit to 4-3. But Broncs reliever Dorety struck out the next batter, and Flynn retired the side in order in the ninth.

Lavely finished 3 for 5 with an RBI. Doninger went 2 for 3 with an RBI. For Rider, Neri went 1 for 3 with an RBI and Labrusciano went 1 for 3 with an RBI.

The Peacocks outhit the Broncs 10-7 but left seven runners on base. Rider had three errors but limited the damage in key spots.

The two teams meet again Saturday in the series finale.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Rider 7, Saint Peter’s 1. The ELO system gave Rider a 92.20 percent probability of winning.