St. John's University 8, Rider University 3
St. John's University 4, Rider University 2
JAMAICA (QUEENS), N.Y.?The Rider University softball team lost a non-conference doubleheader in Jamaica (Queens), New York at St. John's Wednesday afternoon. “It was a bit chilly and nothing like Jamaica,” said head coach Tricia Carroll. “St. John's is a pretty good hitting team and we made some mistakes on pitch selection.”
In the nightcap, senior Katy Mills (Seattle, Wash./Mount Rainier) hit her third home run of the season to left center, giving Rider (5-16) a 1-0 second inning lead.
The Red Storm broke a 1-1 tie in the fourth inning with a two-out RBI single before Rider tied the game at two on an RBI single by junior Derrin Minunni (Cohoes, N.Y./Shaker) in the fifth inning.
“It was good that we kept battling,” Carroll added. “We have to work on when we score, not giving the runs right back and we did that today and weren't able to shut them down after we took the lead in either game. We need to learn how to keep the momentum.”
St. John's retook the lead with a two-run fifth for the final score.
“Katy had a nice home run to give us a lead,” said Carroll. It was a pretty good ball game but again, like the first game, we need to be smarter with our pitch selection. We battled but they [St. John's] were a hit better than us today. We had chances but didn't take advantage as much as we needed to.”
Freshman Rachael Matreale (Williamstown) went the first four innings, allowing six hits while recording four strikeouts. Senior Lauren Brunner (Chino, Calif./Chino) pitched two scoreless innings of relief for Rider. “Rachael pitched well except for two pitches,” Carroll said. “We talked after the game about how you can't go to the same location on the same hitter with the same pitch. With that said, Rachele's composure has been better and she has stayed calm with runners on base and she is letting her defense do the work behind her.”
Also for the Broncs, junior Allyson Melia (Toms River/Toms River HS North) had two hits and scored a run.
In the opener, sophomore Amanda Centeno (Ventura, Calif./Buena) hit a two-run single giving Rider a 2-0 lead in the third inning. Centeno had two hits in the first game.
St. John's responded with a five-run third, including a grand slam by Kacee Cox, giving the Red Storm a 5-2 lead.
St. John's used four hits and a Bronc error to plate three more runs in the fourth inning.
Also for the Broncs, junior Megan Kozlowski (Richboro, Pa./Council Rock HS North) had two hits and a stolen base.
Freshman Kelsey Krisch (Parker, Colo./Council Rock HS North) went six innings for Rider, recording one strikeout. “I thought Kelsey did a nice job pitching,” said Carroll. “We fell into a little bit of a pattern on some of our pitch calls and St. John's took advantage on the grand slam. We have to pay more attention to our pitch selection but overall, I liked her composure throughout the game. Overall, everyone worked hard today and we did some good things and some things we still need to get better at.”
Rider has lost five straight. The Red Storm lead the all-time series 13-5 with the last Bronc win during the 2000 season.
Rider opens the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference schedule with a doubleheader on Saturday at noon, at Herb and Joan Young Field, against two-time defending conference champion Canisius.
“We're going to face them at some point so I'm glad we get Canisius at home,” said Carroll. “You have to be ready to play no matter who it is in the conference. It so happens that we are starting against the defending champions and really the only thing I'm glad about is that we don't have to go to Buffalo.”
Even if it means having to go to Jamaica (New York) instead.
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