Rider University 7, Wagner College 2
Columbia University 6, Rider University 5
KISSIMMEE, Fla.?The Rider University softball team had its four-game winning streak snapped on Tuesday, ending the day with a split at the Rebel Spring Games in Florida. “We hit the ball well,” said head coach Tricia Carroll. “I thought the end of the second game was disappointing. We had a nice come back and gave it right back to Columbia. We fought hard and fell a little bit short.”
In the opener against Wagner, Rider scored in five of seven innings with three players having multiple hit games.
“We're looking more comfortable in the batter's box,” said Carroll. “It was a long game and we were in a kind of bend but don't break mode. Wagner put a lot of runners on base but ran themselves out of a couple of innings. Our defense made some nice plays to cut the runners down.”
The Broncs jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the third on an RBI single by sophomore Amanda Centeno (Ventura, Calif./Buena) and an RBI double from sophomore Brittany Eckett (Jackson, N.J./Jackson Memorial). Eckett was named the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Player of the Week last week after batting .500 with Centeno picking up three hits and two runs scored on Tuesday.
“It was a fun game to coach,” Carroll added. “We were getting the right combinations and the right counts to put runners in motion and force some things to happen. We used our speed to build an early lead. We have to create opportunities when we can for the offense.”
Rider added single runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings to pull away, giving freshman Rachael Matreale (Williamstown) her second win in a row. Matreale threw a complete game, recording four strikeouts, allowing only one earned run.
“Rachael got herself into trouble with some of the walks but the defense stepped up when it had to,” Carroll said. “I don't think Rachael pitched exceptionally well but she maintained her composure and that was good to see.”
In the nightcap against Columbia, Rider (4-8) battled back from a 3-1 deficit with a four-run sixth inning, only to give up three runs in the top of the seventh to lose 6-5.
In the sixth, senior Katy Mills (Seattle, Wash./Mount Rainier) hit a two-run home run, giving the Broncs a 5-3 lead. Rider had tied the game on an RBI double from freshman Kristin Stefanowicz (Hurley, N.Y./Kingston).
“We stayed in the games and the attitude and energy were good,” Carroll said. “Columbia likes to put the ball in play and caught us a little off guard. We did a good job of staying close and pushing our runs across. We had some good at-bats and they did as well. Both team capitalized on the mistakes that each other made.”
The Lions roared back for the win, keyed by a two-out, two-run single from Stephanie Yagi. Senior Lauren Brunner (Chino, Calif./Chino) went all seven innings for Rider, recording two strikeouts.
Also for the Broncs, junior Allyson Melia (Toms River/Toms River North) had four hits on Tuesday with two runs scored with junior Megan Kozlowski (Richboro, Pa./Council Rock HS North) adding two hits to extend her hitting streak to seven games.
Rider improves to 18-5 all-time against Wagner and drops to 8-12 all-time against Columbia. The Lions travel to Rider for a doubleheader on April 23. The Broncs swept the Lions last season, 3-1 and 9-0 in New York.
Rider stays in Florida for three games on Wednesday, against Akron and Army with a night game against Houston Baptist.
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