College Softball
Towson University 4, Rider University 0
Towson University 5, Rider University 3
TOWSON, Md.?The Rider University softball team was swept in the final non-conference doubleheader of the 2008 regular season Thursday. “For the most part, I thought it was two pretty good games,” said head coach Tricia Carroll. “Towson is a pretty strong team and I thought we competed right with them.”
In the night cap, Rider (11-27) used a third inning double by senior Mandi Sekly (Canyon Country, Calif./Canyon) and a single by sophomore Megan Kozlowski (Richboro, Pa./Council Rock-North) to break a scoreless tie. Senior Tiffany Day-Neutill (Agoura Hills, Calif./Oaks Christian) followed with a two-run single giving the Broncs a 3-0 lead.
Sekly had two doubles in game two. “Mandi had a good game,” Carroll added. “As a team we hit the ball hard but right at them.”
Towson (32-20) responded with a five-run fifth inning on five hits and one Rider error for the final score.
Day-Neutill had her 12th multiple hit game of the season and now has 53 in her career. With her two hits, Day-Neutill has 192, passing Dawn Fantini for fifth highest all-time at Rider.
Junior Lauren Brunner (Chino, Calif./Chino) threw a complete game for Rider, recording three strikeouts. “Lauren pitched well,” said Carroll. “We competed and played hard.”
The Broncs have lost three straight and five of their last six games. “You are frustrated to lose,” said Carroll. “We know we battled and a hit here and there and we win one if not both games today.”
In the opener, senior Aimee Schiller (Moreno Valley, Calif./Moreno Valley) had two of Rider's five hits as the Broncs were shutout.
Towson broke a scoreless tie in the fourth inning, scoring three times on a triple, home run and two Bronc errors.
The Tigers added another home run in the fifth inning to close out the scoring.
Senior Jessica Holland (Hatboro, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham) scattered eight hits, allowing three earned runs for Rider in game one.
Rider travels to Fairfield, Connecticut on Saturday for a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference doubleheader against the Stags.
“What we do outside of conference play is in preparation for the MAAC games,” said Carroll. "Towson plays a lot like Fairfield will with some of the bunts and the speed that they have. Seeing that type of game today will help us on Saturday. We just have to take things one pitch at a time.”
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