College Softball - Norfolk Invitational
Quinnipiac University 9, Rider University 1
Fairleigh Dickinson University 10, Rider University 7
NORFOLK, Va.--The Rider University softball team lost twice on the final day of the Norfolk Invitational Sunday afternoon in Virginia.
The Broncs lost to the Bobcats of Quinnipiac for the second day in a row and to the Knights of FDU. "We showed at times that we have some real talent, speed, power and pitching," said head coach Tricia Carroll. "And at times, we also showed that we are very early in the season with our defensive effort. We kicked the ball around a little bit."
For Rider (1-7) in the night cap, freshman Heather Muscara (North Bellmore, N.Y./Mepham) went four for four with four RBI and two runs scored and was a triple short of the cycle. Muscara batted .667 in the tournament. "Heather did well," Carroll said. "Things will come together. We definitely have depth and talent and will be able to go with the hot bats to trigger the offense."
Also for the Broncs, senior Derrin Minunni (Cohoes, N.Y./Shaker) had two hits including a double and scored twice to go along with two RBI.
Freshman Alyssa Paul (Toms River/Toms River HS East) also had two hits with freshman Christina LoBrutto (Hillsborough) scoring twice for the Broncs.
Trailing 6-0 in the fourth, Rider got on the board with an RBI double by freshman Alyssa Paul (Toms River/Toms River HS East).
With FDU leading 10-1 in the fifth, Minunni and Muscara hit back to back RBI doubles as Rider mounted a comeback.
The Broncs scored four times in the seventh to make a game of it late, with Minunni hitting an RBI single and Muscara hitting her first career home run, a three-run shot to get Rider within three.
Freshman Rachel Coleman (Pennsville) went four innings, recording one strikeout for Rider.
In the opener, Quinnipiac held Rider to four hits and took advantage of four Bronc errors in a 9-1 win. The Bobcats defeated the Broncs 12-5 on Saturday night.
Trailing 2-0 in the third inning, junior Amanda Centeno (Ventura, Calif./Buena) had an RBI single, scoring senior Ally Melia (Toms River/Toms River HS North) who led off with a single and stole second. Melia had five stolen bases in the tournament.
The Bobcats used three hits and a Rider error to plate three runs in the fourth and used three hits and a Bronc error to score three more times in the sixth for the final score.
Sophomore Rachael Matreale (Williamstown) had six strikeouts for the Broncs. "Rachael pitched well," said Carroll. She is still battling an ankle injury but she battled for us. We got her some run support but didn't help her defensively by extending a few of the innings."
Rider travels to Lafayette for a non-conference doubleheader on March 10. The Rider Invitational scheduled for Herb and Joan Young Field on the Lawrenceville campus March 6-7 was cancelled due to the heavy snow from the past two weeks.
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