College Softball
Rider University 5, Wagner College 4
Rider University 7, Colgate University 2
KISSIMMEE, Florida?The Rider University softball team won twice at the Rebel Spring Games, defeating Wagner and Colgate on Monday in Florida. “It was an outstanding two wins,” said head coach Tricia Carroll. “We are playing composed and not letting mistakes turn into a big inning.”
For Rider (5-6), freshman Amanda Centeno (Ventura, Calif./Buena) had five hits on the day with freshman Brittany Eckett (Jackson/Jackson Memorial) adding three hits. “Amanda is taking good swings and is going into the batter's box with a plan. She has been solid for us and the top of our lineup is becoming dangerous.”
“We knew what we had to do at the plate and we got it done,” said Centeno who is majoring in Biology at Rider. “I don't really feel any pressure when I'm up to bat. I just go up there, have fun and do what I have to do for the team, whether it is advancing runners or driving them in.”
With the score tied at one in the fourth inning against Colgate, the Broncs scored four times on two sacrifice flies and RBI singles from senior Aimee Schiller (Moreno Valley, Calif./Moreno Valley) and sophomore Megan Kozlowski (Richboro, Pa./Council Rock-North) to take a 5-1 lead.
“We pushed some runs across the plate which is kind of how we play,” said Carroll. “I was happy to see that we took care of business defensively in the bottom of the fourth to keep the momentum.”
Junior pitcher Lauren Brunner (Chino, Calif./Chino) went the distance scattering five hits to pick up her third win of the season.
Trailing 4-2 in the sixth inning against Wagner, Rider scored three times to take a lead 5-4. Senior Tiffany Day-Neutill (Agoura Hills, Calif. /Oaks Christian) singled in Schiller who led off the inning with a single and was sacrificed to second. After two walks and a Seahawk pitching change, Eckett hit a two-run single up the middle, scoring sophomore Candice Harris (Las Vegas, Nev./Coronado) and Kozlowski. Kozlowski had three walks for Rider out of the lead off spot in the lineup against the Seahawks.
“It was a fun day,” said Centeno. “Even though we got down against Wagner, everyone stayed pumped up and positive.”
The Broncs opened the scoring in the first inning with a two-run single by Centeno.
Wagner scored once in the fourth and three in the fifth to take a 4-2 lead.
The rally made a winner of freshman Samantha Bennett (Staten Island, N.Y./Tottenville) who threw two and two-thirds innings of one-hit ball in relief of starter senior Jessica Holland (Hatboro, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham). Holland allowed only two earned runs in four and one-third innings.
“It was very exciting,” said Bennett. “My teammates were behind me and got us back into the game. I wanted to make sure no more runs were scored to give us a chance.”
“Samantha stepped up and got her first collegiate win,” Carroll said. “It was great to see us come back after a little bit of a lull in the middle of the game. Wagner was starting to hit Jessica and they are a good hitting team. Jess kept us in the game and Samantha kept the ball low in the zone where we needed it. I had confidence that while Wagner may put the ball in play, Samantha wasn't going to give up any big hits. She did a great job and was very composed.”
“We changed it up and brought in Samantha to keep Wagner off balance,” said pitching coach Heather Beintema. “The Seahawks are a powerful hitting team and we knew Samantha would keep the ball low and get ground balls. She got the outs that we needed.”
The Broncs lead the all-time series against Wagner 17-5 but this is the first time since the 2004 season that Rider has defeated its former Northeast conference. Rider holds a 5-2 series advantage over Colgate.
Rider has won four straight, its longest winning streak since winning eight in a row at the end of the 2006 season. “Winning feels good,” said Centeno. “We are confident right how and we are having fun and looking good as a team.”
“Regardless of the wins and losses, I am happy with the way we are playing,” Carroll added. “We've come from behind and won and we've led early and kept the lead. Both experiences are important to have gone through."
The Broncs face Rhode Island and Cornell on Tuesday in Florida. Rider defeated Rhode Island 6-5 in eight innings on March 15.
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