College Softball - Rebel Spring Games
Rider University 9, Colgate University 4
Rider University 8, Fairleigh Dickinson University 7
KISSIMMEE, Fla.?The Rider University softball team swept two games on the first day of the Rebel Spring Games in Florida on Sunday. “We kept battling,” said head coach Tricia Carroll. “We got good at-bats and our composure and swagger is starting to come around.”
Tied at seven in the seventh inning of the second game, junior Allyson Melia (Toms River/Toms River North) hit an RBI double with no outs, scoring freshman Lucy Higgins (Westminster, Mass./Notre Dame Academy) who led off with a single. Melia had four hits including two doubles and four runs scored on Sunday.
“I knew it was the top of the seventh and we had to score a run,” Melia said. “We had been playing well all day and we wanted to go out with another bang. I was just waiting for a good pitch and I got it.”
“Allyson did a great job,” Carroll said. “She plays with a lot of confidence and is quicker than anyone realizes. She also has power and is a threat to take an extra base. The leadoff spot is perfect for her.”
“My job as the leadoff batter is to get on any way I can,” Melia added. “I work on getting good pitches and I have pretty good speed and I hustle every time down the line.”
The hit made a winner of freshman reliever Kelsey Krisch (Parker, Colo./Council Rock HS North) who threw two and two-thirds innings of shutout relief, scattering two hits while recording two strikeouts for her first career win.
“Kelsey came in with the bases loaded and was very composed,” Carroll said. “She got us out of the inning and stopped the FDU rally.”
Trailing 3-0 in the fifth, Rider freshman Kristin Stefanowicz (Hurley, N.Y./Kingston) hit a three-run double, keying a six-run inning.
“I was a little frustrated in the second game,” Carroll said. “We went through the first three innings without a hit and I wasn't happy with the at-bat efforts. We didn't challenge FDU at all and we talked about making an adjustment and to their credit, we did.”
In the opener, junior Candice Harris (Las Vegas, Nev./Coronado) hit a grand slam to break a 3-3 tie in the fourth inning. Harris had two hits on the day.
Freshman Rachael Matreale (Williamstown) picked up her first collegiate win with a complete game, recording three strikeouts.
“We've been working on Rachael maintaining her presence out there,” Carroll said. “She had some moments where she labored but she stepped up when we needed her to. She did a nice job.”
Also for the Broncs, sophomore Brittany Eckett (Jackson/Jackson Memorial) homered in each game, her second and third home runs of the season and had three hits overall.
“Brittany homering right after we gave FDU the lead back was awesome,” Carroll added. “That was a big hit.” FDU had just taken a 7-6 lead in the bottom of the fifth before Eckett re-tied the game at seven in the top of the sixth.
Juniors Derrin Minunni (Cohoes, N.Y./Shaker) and Megan Kozlowski (Richboro, Pa./Council Rock HS North) also had three hits each for the Broncs.
Rider (3-7) has won three straight.
“It feels amazing having won three straight,” said Melia. “It's like a totally different team. The energy has been better and we are playing better as a team.”
The Broncs face Wagner and Columbia on Tuesday in Florida.
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