Iona College 9, Rider University 1
Rider University 4, Iona College 3
Candice Harris 100th career hit
LAWRENCEVILLE?The Rider University softball team split a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference doubleheader with Iona on Sunday at Herb and Joan Young Field. “I was so disappointed that we didn't come out on fire in the first game,” said head coach Tricia Carroll. “We rebounded in the second game but in the opener, we played like we did not want to make the playoffs.”
In the nightcap, Rider (14-30, 6-6 MAAC) sophomore Amanda Centeno (Ventura, Calif./Buena) hit a two-out, grand slam, her second home run of the season, giving the Broncs a 4-0 second inning lead. That was Centeno's first hit of the season in three tries with the bases loaded and could not have come at a better time.
“I was excited to get the hit,” Centeno said. “I like being in pressure situations with runners on base. I know I have a job to do and I wanted to pick the team up after we struggled in the first game. I was just trying to put the ball in play and get a rally started, not necessarily hit a home run.”
“Amanda is always working, out here early, staying late,” Carroll said. “She listens and understands things and works very hard. She is not the quickest base runner but you need her in the two spot in the line up to get her bat up as often as possible. Her rise in batting average didn't happen by mistake. She works really hard at doing the little things right and learning and making herself better. She is willing to put in the extra time and the five hits and six RBI in the last two days is a result of her work ethic.”
Senior Katy Mills (Seattle, Wash./Mount Rainier) hit a two-out single with senior Clarissa Ortiz (Vineland/Sacred Heart) and junior Allyson Melia (Toms River/Toms River HS North) working walks to setup the slam. Mills had two hits in the second game with Melia adding two hits in game one.
Rider is now 20-45 (.444) with the bases loaded this season with Centeno second on the team with seven two-out RBIs. Centeno is on a four-game hitting streak.
Freshman Kelsey Krisch (Parker, Colo./Council Rock North) won her fourth game of the season, going six and one-third innings, recording three strikeouts while scattering nine hits and allowing one earned run. Senior Lauren Brunner (Chino, Calif./Chino) came on for her second save of the season, recording the final two outs with the bases loaded.
“It helped that we made some plays in the field behind me,” Krisch said. “I was able to go out there and just pitch. It was nice to have the plays made after we gave up six unearned runs in the first game. It helped that Amanda's hit gave me an early lead. It relaxed me and I was able to just pitch and if Iona hit it, I had a cushion to work with.”
“Kelsey did a nice job,” Carroll said. “I knew when she was on and when it was time to bring in the senior [Brunner] to close it out. Lauren is tough. She doesn't get bothered by pressure situations. She did what we needed her to do.”
“I just wanted to come in and do my job,” Brunner said about her save situation. “I wanted to help Kelsey finish the game and get a ground ball or strikeout; whatever it took to get the job done. Kelsey was very good, keeping Iona's hitters off balance. It helped that she is left handed and I was right handed to give them [Iona] a different look.”
The Broncs improved to 5-4 in one-run games this season.
“Even in the second game, we hit some balls right at the defense,” Carroll said. "But, we still didn't have great at-bats. Getting frustrated doesn't help. We need to make adjustments and find a way to do some things different.”
Also for the Broncs, sophomore Brittany Eckett (Jackson/Jackson Memorial) had two hits including her seventh double of the year.
In the opener, Rider made three errors, leading to six unearned runs as the Gaels won 9-1. “You are not going to win many ball games giving up six unearned runs,” said Carroll. “Rachael pitched ok. She did a nice job and deserved a better fate.”
Freshman Rachael Matreale (Williamstown) threw six and two-thirds, recording seven strikeouts, allowing only three earned runs. “Rachael got five ground balls in the fourth inning, it would have been nice if we fielded more than two of them” Carroll added. “She kept us in the ball game.”
For the Broncs, junior Candice Harris (Las Vegas, Nev./Coronado) hit a one out double in the seventh inning, the 100th hit in her career, eventually scoring on an Iona error to break up the shutout.
Harris is the 41st Rider softball player to achieve the century mark in hits.
Iona broke open a scoreless game with six runs in the fourth inning, all with two outs after the Broncs made three errors.
The Gaels scored three times in the seventh on three hits to open up a nine run lead before Rider got on the board.
The teams combined to leave 21 runners on base in the opener.
Rider leads the all-time series 16-9. The Broncs split with the Gaels in New Rochelle during 2008, losing 5-4 before winning 2-1.
After going 3-5 in its first eight league games, Rider is 3-1 in its last four MAAC contests.
“I'm not sure about the momentum thing,” Carroll said. “We had momentum from yesterday and look what we did in the first game. It's more of a situation where you can't forget the journey that got you to 3-1 in the last four MAAC games. You have to remember what didn't go right in the first eight games of league play and remember the things that got you three wins in the last four games. It doesn't just happen. You have to do the things that brought you here to win ball games.”
The Broncs travel to Manhattan for a MAAC doubleheader on May 2nd before hosting Niagara in a MAAC doubleheader on May 3rd. Rider will honor its graduating seniors between games of the doubleheader against the Purple Eagles.
“We have confidence going into the last weekend,” Krisch said. “We're looking to pull some wins out.”
“We're going to work really hard in practice this week,” Centeno said about preparing for the final conference games of the regular season. “We're going to give it our all for the last four games and go from there. It will be a good week for everyone to work on the different things that they may be struggling with so we're ready to go on Saturday.”
Marist (9-7 MAAC) completed its MAAC season with a split at Canisius (8-6). Rider (6-6) and Niagara (6-6) are tied for fifth and meet the last series of the season. The Broncs split the two-game series with Marist earlier this season. Fairfield and Manhattan (9-3) are currently tied for first in league play through Sunday with Canisius (8-6) in third place.
“We fought and came back after the opening game,” Carroll added. “The first game was not a Rider team that anyone was proud of. They listened between games and refocused and were ready to play and that's what we needed. The next game we lose, we give up control of our destiny. It's nice going into the last weekend with a chance to do something special and have it in our control. With everyone on the same page, we are tough to beat. This is a great group of athletes that work really hard and we don't want to waste the opportunity we have by not having the right attitude or energy.”
Over 200 fans were on hand including teams from the Robbinsville Softball Little League. "The crowd was nice," Carroll said. "It was a neat thing for our players and the little league players to run the bases in between games and be on the field for the national anthem. Everyone enjoyed themselves and it was good to give back to the community."
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