Akron 7, Rider University 6 (8 innings)
Army 3, Rider University 1 (8 innings)
Rider University 4, Houston Baptist 2 (8 innings) - National Softball Training Center
KISSIMMEE, Fla.?The Rider University softball team played three times on Wednesday in Florida, going extra innings in all three and picked up a win against Houston Baptist in the nightcap at the National Softball Training Center. “Three extra inning games, it was a long day,” said head coach Tricia Carroll.
Tied at two in the eighth inning, sophomore Brittany Eckett (Jackson/Jackson Memorial) homered for the Broncs giving Rider a 3-2 lead and an error gave the Broncs an insurance run, making a winner of senior Lauren Brunner (Chino, Calif./Chino) who went all eight innings.
“We just kept playing today,” Carroll said. “We had some hard hits right at their defense and I told the players that they will start to drop. Brittany's home run was huge and to get the win after having two tough losses earlier in the day was important. I like that we weren't thinking about the first two games and we were just playing relaxed and confident. In the context of the day however, winning tonight was big for us.”
Houston Baptist had a chance to win the game in the seventh after a one-out triple but ran themselves out of the inning. “Unlike earlier in the day, we were able to get outs where we would tonight,” Carroll added. “We're not going to outscore anyone so we need to manufacture where we can and on the defensive side, find outs where we can. You have to be a little heads up to be aware of the plays that you have a chance to make.”
Against Akron Wednesday morning, Rider trailed 6-3 before rallying with a three-run seventh inning before the Zips hit a one-out RBI single for the walk off win.
Junior Candice Harris (Las Vegas, Nev./Coronado) homered twice for Rider, collecting four RBI's.
“We gave Akron a couple of runs on errors and got behind early,” Carroll said. “We battled and battled and managed to tie it up and then couldn't push anything across in the top of the eighth. Akron executed a textbook bunt in the bottom of the inning and got the winning hit. We did a great job battling and staying in it.”
Against Army, junior Allyson Melia hit an RBI groundout giving the Broncs a 1-0 third inning lead.
The Cadets tied the game in the seventh on a two-out wild pitch and scored twice in the top of the eighth off of two hits and a Bronc error.
“The second game, we just didn't get it going,” said Carroll. “We lots of opportunities and didn't score and Army was able to take advantage of a two-out wild pitch to tie the game. That was disappointing because it looks like the wild pitch cost us the game when in fact our inability to put the ball in play was the real cause. We had chances the whole game.”
Freshman Kelsey Krisch (Parker, Colo. (Council Rock HS North) threw a complete game, recording six strikeouts while allowing only one earned run as Rider made three errors.
“Kelsey pitched a great game,” Carroll said. “That was good to see. It was a bummer the way Army tied it and even more so that we lost the game. Give Army credit for hanging around and taking advantage of when we made mistakes.”
After it being a great day to play three, Rider has a much deserved off day on Thursday before facing Wisconsin-Green Bay and Lafayette on Friday in Florida. Rider and Lafayette split a doubleheader in Lawrenceville on March 11.
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