LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP, N.J. (Interstat) — Rider erased an early deficit with five unearned runs in the third inning and pulled away for a 12-5 victory over Saint Peter’s on Saturday afternoon at Sonny Pittaro Field. The Broncs won their second straight against the Peacocks in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference series.

Rider improved to 29-17 overall, while Saint Peter’s fell to 5-47.

Saint Peter’s struck first in the third inning. Josh Bullock walked and scored on a two-run home run to left field by Alex Manent, giving the Peacocks a 2-0 lead. The home run was Manent’s only hit of the day; he finished 1 for 3 with two RBIs.

The game turned dramatically in the bottom of the third. With two outs and the bases loaded, Rider’s M. Copenspi reached on a fielding error by Saint Peter’s third baseman. The error allowed three unearned runs to score, tying the game 2-2. A subsequent hit-by-pitch and a double by Dillon Jennings drove in two more unearned runs, putting Rider ahead 5-2. All five runs in the inning were unearned.

Saint Peter’s answered in the fourth. Max Doninger singled and scored on Ellis Reid’s RBI single. Max McCluske walked, and Joey Dwyer singled to drive in McCluske, tying the game 5-5.

Rider reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the fourth. Kyle Neri singled to left field, driving in E. Medlock, who had walked and advanced on a wild pitch. Neri finished 2 for 4 with three RBIs and later stole second.

The Broncs broke the game open in the fifth. Nick Shuhet, pinch hitting, doubled to center field to drive in two runs, giving Rider an 8-5 lead. After a fielding error by Saint Peter’s second baseman, Medlock doubled down the left-field line for an RBI. Neri followed with a double to right field, driving in two more runs and extending the lead to 11-5.

Saint Peter’s scored an unearned run in the sixth when Harry Wilton crossed the plate on a bases-loaded walk by Chase Fogg, making it 11-5. Rider answered in the bottom of the inning when Shuhet singled to right field for his third RBI of the game, scoring M. Leahy.

Rider’s bullpen held the Peacocks scoreless over the final three innings. Alex D’Ambrosio pitched a perfect seventh inning with two strikeouts. Jack Ruditzky and Lucas Garton each recorded scoreless outings, combining for one inning of work. Frank Papeo allowed two hits in the ninth but struck out one to close the game.

Saint Peter’s starter Logan Wenzel took the loss, allowing four earned runs over 4⅓ innings with five strikeouts. Jackson Thorne pitched a scoreless seventh for the Peacocks.

The most crucial sequence occurred in the bottom of the third inning when Rider’s five unearned runs erased a 2-0 deficit and shifted the momentum decisively.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Rider 7, Saint Peter’s 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Rider with a 92.20 percent probability to win.