College Softball - Rebel Spring Games
Rider University 2, Columbia University 1
Rider University 5, Colgate University 4
KISSIMMEE, Fla.--The Rider University softball team broke a three-game losing streak with a sweep of Columbia and Colgate on day one at the Rebel Spring Games in Florida Sunday afternoon.
"It was a nice day," said head coach Tricia Carroll. "The energy was good; we had some players step up and we came out with two wins. It was a good day overall; two one-run wins is a confidence booster."
In the opener, Rider (3-7) freshman Sam Pugh (Elkton, Md./Elkton) made her first collegiate home run a memorable one, giving the Broncs a walk-off 2-1 win over Columbia. Pugh also doubled in the game.
"Sam's hit was big," said Carroll.
Sophomore Rachael Matreale (Williamstown) picked up her second victory of the season with a complete game three-hitter, recording seven strikeouts.
"Rachael pitched great," Carroll said. "We played solid defense and got ourselves out of some tight spots in both games."
Trailing 1-0 in the fourth against the Lions, junior Amanda Centeno (Ventura, Calif./Buena) led off with a single to right field and was sacrificed to second. After advancing to third on a passed ball, Centeno scored on a Columbia error to tie the game at one.
Columbia scored in the first inning on a walk, stolen base, wild pitch and sacrifice fly.
This is Rider's second win in a row over the Lions dating back to last season. Columbia defeated the Broncs in Florida in 2009 6-5 and in Lawrenceville 5-1 before Rider rebounded to take game two of the home doubleheader 3-1 on April 23.
In the night cap, senior Candice Harris (Henderson, Nev./Coronado) scored on a Raider error in the seventh inning to break a 4-4 tie and give Rider the win.
In the final inning, Centeno led off with a single and was forced at second on a fielder's choice by Harris. Junior Brittany Eckett (Jackson/Jackson Memorial) grounded out, moving Harris to second and Harris then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Junior Jen Steward (Haddon Twp.) then hit a ground ball to shortstop for the final play.
Steward, Centeno and Harris all had two hits in the second game with Steward knocking in two and Eckett adding a double.
Sophomore Kelsey Krisch (Parker, Colo./Council Rock HS North) went the distance for the Broncs, recording one strikeout in seven innings of work.
"We hit the ball hard and the players did a nice job of being aggressive and moving up bases when we could," Carroll said. "It wasn't the cleanest game but we held it together. Kelsey settled down on the mound and was able to complete the game. It was a good day."
The Broncs took a 1-0 lead in the first inning against the Raiders on an RBI single by Steward, which scored Harris who had also singled.
Tied at one, Rider scored three times in the third inning on an RBI double by Eckett and RBI singles by Steward and Pugh.
Colgate got two back in the bottom of the third and tied the game with a single run in the fourth.
Also for the Broncs in game two, senior Ally Melia (Toms River/Toms River HS North) had a double.
Pugh, Centeno and Steward all had three hits on the day and Centeno has now hit safely in four straight games.
Rider defeated Colgate last season in Florida by a 9-4 score and in 2008 by a 7-2 score, also in Florida at the Rebel Games.
The Broncs face Columbia and Wisconsin-Green Bay in Florida on Monday. "We enjoyed ourselves and played hard," Carroll added.
The Rider-Columbia matchup on Sunday was a late addition to the schedule after original opponent Fairleigh Dickinson had its flight delayed due to the storm that pummeled the East Coast this past weekend.
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