College Softball - Rebel Spring Games
Rider University 7, Columbia University 0
Wisconsin-Green Bay 15, Rider University 4 (5 innings)
KISSIMMEE, Fla.--The Rider University softball team won its third straight game (and second in as many days against Columbia) before losing to the Phoenix of Wisconsin-Green Bay on Monday at the Rebel Spring Games in Florida.
For Rider (4-8) in the opener, junior Sam Bennett (Staten Island, N.Y./Tottenville) threw a complete game, five-hit shutout, recording three strikeouts.
"Sam pitched great," said head coach Tricia Carroll. "She hit her spots and kept the ball down and we made plays behind her. Senior Derrin Minunni (Cohoes, N.Y./Shaker) did a nice job calling the game."
The Broncs got on the board in the top of the first with freshman Rachel Coleman (Pennsville) and senior Ally Melia (Toms River/Toms River HS North) each collecting singles. Melia stole home as Coleman took second on a double steal to give Rider a 1-0 lead.
"Ally gets things started for us with her speed," Carroll said.
Rider scored three times in the third led by an RBI double from junior Jen Steward (Haddon Twp.) and a two-run double by junior Brittany Eckett (Jackson/Jackson Memorial).
Eckett picked up her third RBI of the game, knocking in Steward in the fourth and scored on an RBI single by freshman Heather Muscara (North Bellmore, N.Y./Mepham) as the Broncs increased their lead to 6-0. Eckett had two hits in the game and knocked in three.
"Heather is a really aggressive runner," said Carroll. "Any opportunity that she had, she moved up and we had several players do that today. And Brittany, she saw the ball really well today, in both games."
Steward had an RBI single in the fifth, scoring senior Megan Kozlowski (Richboro, Pa./Council Rock HS North) with Rider's final run of the contest. Steward finished with two hits, two runs scored and two RBI.
Also for Rider, senior Candice Harris (Henderson, Nev./Coronado) had three hits and scored twice.
"Candice, up until yesterday wasn't really making solid contact," Carroll said. "In the last four games, since we've been in Florida, she is hitting the ball hard and has had really good at-bats. She is our number three hitter and we need her to hit with Eckett behind her."
This was Rider's third 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 and the Broncs defeated the Lions 2-1 on Sunday, on a walk-off home run.
In the second game, Wisconsin-Green Bay scored 12 runs in the first inning enroute to the 15-4 win over Rider.
For the Broncs, Eckett homered as part of a two for two game with sophomore Samantha Mayer (Neptune) also hitting a home run. Mayer also had a double and three RBI in the second game.
Trailing 12-0 in the second inning, Eckett and Mayer each hit a solo home run to get the Broncs on the board and Mayer hit a two-run double in the fourth inning to bring Rider to within 10.
"Sam is an excellent, excellent outfielder," said Carroll. "The younger players are starting to push the veterans. Sam and Heather Muscara are making it very hard to keep them out of the line up and that is a great problem to have. They are coming through when they have opportunities."
At 3-1 at the Rebel Games, the Broncs are off Tuesday before facing Army and Fairleigh Dickinson in Florida Wednesday afternoon.
"We are happy with the first three games and the fourth game was a little of a bummer," Carroll added. "There were some things that happened that were out of our control and I told the team afterwards that I was proud of how we handled the adversity. We stayed positive and that's what we have to do when things don't happen in our favor. We still have to play hard and have fun."
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