ASHEVILLE, N.C. (Interstat) — Kyle Neri went 4 for 5 with a home run and four RBIs, and three Rider pitchers combined for 8 2/3 innings of no-hit relief as the Broncs routed UNC Asheville 10-2 in the first game of a doubleheader Saturday at Greenwood Baseball Field.

The victory improved Rider to 3-0 to start the season, while the Bulldogs fell to 2-6.

The game’s decisive stretch came in the middle innings, where Rider’s pitching staff completely stifled the UNC Asheville offense. Starter Clayton Poliey earned the win, allowing one earned run on seven hits over five innings. From there, the Broncs’ bullpen was untouchable. Frank Papeo, Connor Flynn and Dylan Kane retired 14 of the final 15 batters they faced, with the only baserunner reaching on an error. The trio combined for 4 2/3 hitless innings, striking out six.

Rider’s offense, held in check early by UNC Asheville starter Ben Green, broke through in the third. After a single and an error, Erich Hartmann launched a two-run homer to center field to give the Broncs a lead they would not relinquish.

The Broncs added two more in the fifth on an RBI single from Hartmann and a run-scoring single from Neri, making it 4-1. Neri, who entered the game hitting .400 over his last two contests, then took over. He drove in a run with a double in the seventh and capped his day with a two-run homer to left field in the eighth inning, part of a four-run frame that put the game out of reach.

Hartmann finished 2 for 4 with a home run and four RBIs for Rider, which tallied 10 hits. The Broncs capitalized on four UNC Asheville errors and several wild pitches to extend rallies.

UNC Asheville managed just seven hits, all against Poliey. Blaize Johnson led the Bulldogs, going 2 for 3 with an RBI double in the eighth inning that scored Paddy Gillen for the team’s second run. Gillen had two of the Bulldogs’ hits, including a double.

Green took the loss for UNC Asheville, surrendering two earned runs on three hits over three innings of work. The Bulldogs used six pitchers in the contest.

The result defied the pregame projection from Interstat’s game simulator, which had forecast a 4-0 victory for UNC Asheville. However, the same service’s ELO rating system gave Rider a 65.6% probability to win.

The teams met Friday, with Rider securing a 6-5 victory. The second game of Saturday’s doubleheader was scheduled to follow.

Rider is next scheduled to play a three-game series at Delaware beginning Feb. 27. UNC Asheville will travel to Jackson, Mississippi, for a multi-team event starting Feb. 27, facing Jackson State and others.