Iona College 5, Rider University 4
Rider University 2, Iona College 1
NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y.?The Rider University softball team split a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference doubleheader at Iona, winning 2-1 in the night cap after falling in the opener 5-4. “The first game was frustrating,” said head coach Tricia Carroll. “Jessica [Holland] pitched well, well enough to get the win. The positive is that we were able to gain a split against a tough Iona pitcher in game two. We had enough chances to win both games.”
In the second game, Rider (12-30, 4-8 MAAC) broke a 1-1 tie in the sixth inning with a one-out RBI single by senior Aimee Schiller (Moreno Valley, Calif./Moreno Valley) which scored senior Tiffany Day-Neutill (Agoura Hills, Calif./Oaks Christian) who led off the inning with a single. For Schiller it was her third RBI single of the doubleheader. “It was nice to finally be on the other end and get a game winning hit for us in a one-run game,” said Carroll.
All three of Rider's conference losses this weekend were by one run including two 1-0 games at Fairfield on Saturday and the Broncs are now 7-8 in one-run games this season including 2-5 in conference games decided by one run.
“The second game against Iona's Riccitelli was a good game,” Carroll said. “We made some nice defensive plays and Mandi [Sekly] threw a runner out at the plate in the third inning just after they [Iona] scored so it was exciting.”
The Broncs took a 1-0 lead in the third inning on an RBI single by junior pitcher Lauren Brunner (Chino, Calif./Chino) with the Gaels tying the game in the bottom of the third on an error, single and sacrifice fly.
Brunner pitched a complete game four-hitter, allowing no earned runs while recording two strikeouts for her seventh win of the season.
Also for Rider in game two, sophomore Candice Harris (Las Vegas, Nev./Coronado) and senior Mandi Sekly (Canyon Country, Calif./Canyon) each had two hits with Sekly adding her team-leading seventh double of the season.
In game one, senior Jessica Holland (Hatboro, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham) pitched a complete game, allowing only two earned runs while recording three strikeouts.
Trailing 2-0 in the third inning, Rider scored three times to take the lead on three hits and one Gael error. Freshman Brittany Eckett (Jackson/Jackson Memorial) and Schiller each had RBI singles in the inning.
Iona (12-31, 6-8 MAAC) regained the lead for good in the fifth on a two out walk, error and three-run home run.
Schiller hit her second RBI single of the game in the seventh to bring Rider within one run but that was as close as the Broncs would get.
Schiller, Eckett and sophomore Megan Kozlowski (Richboro, Pa./Council Rock-North) each had two hits for Rider in game one with Eckett and Kozlowski each doubling.
Day-Neutill scored twice for Rider in the opener and had three runs scored in the doubleheader.
Rider finishes the regular season with a trip to Western New York to face second place Niagara and first place Canisius in a pair of MAAC doubleheaders May 3-4.
“The kids have been playing hard, playing well and playing great defense,” said Carroll. “It's frustrating that we've been coming up just short all season. We are going to practice hard this week and go into the final two series with the idea of winning all four games.”
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