WAPPINGERS FALLS, N.Y. (Interstat) — Rider scored seven times in the seventh inning to erase a 2-1 deficit and beat Merrimack 8-2 on Thursday afternoon in the MAAC Baseball Championship. The Broncs improved to 30-17, dropping the Warriors to 27-28. PJ Craig pitched seven innings, allowing two runs on three hits, to earn the win.

Rider struck first in the opening frame when Anthony Paskell doubled to left field, driving in Will Gallagher. Merrimack answered in the top of the second with back-to-back solo home runs. Greg Cristino homered to left, and Jayden Hamilton followed with another solo shot to left, putting the Warriors ahead 2-1. Those were Merrimack’s only hits of the game.

The score stood until the bottom of the seventh. Eliot Medlock singled through the left side to tie the game. Peter Crespo singled up the middle to give Rider the lead. Will Gallagher singled to right, and Erich Hartmann singled to left, each driving in a run. Kyle Neri then doubled to right-center, scoring two more. Paskell added a sacrifice fly to left to complete the rally. The Broncs sent 11 batters to the plate in the inning. Rider’s offense, held to one run through six innings, broke through in the seventh.

Rider outhit Merrimack 12-3. Paskell finished with two RBIs, while Neri drove in two. Cristino and Hamilton accounted for Merrimack’s only runs.