College Softball
Rider University 8, Marist College 0
Rider University 8, Marist College 4
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
LAWRECEVILLE The Rider University softball team swept Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference rival Marist at Herb and Joan Young Field on the campus of Rider University.
In the first game for Rider (10-18-1, 4-0 MAAC) sophomore Rachael Matreale (Williamstown) pitched a no-hitter recording two strikeouts to record her fifth win. This was Rider's first no-hitter since 2004.
“We played really great defense,” said Matreale. “I felt confident out there and I think the team felt confident in me and each other.”
The Broncs opened with a 3-0 first inning lead on a sacrifice fly by junior Amanda Centeno (Ventura, Calif./Buena) and a two-run single from freshman Heather Muscara (North Bellmore, N.Y./Mepham).
“The first game was great,” said Rider head coach Tricia Carroll. “We really hit the ball. No one wants to pitch to (Brittany) Eckett, but who wants to pitch to Centeno, who wants to pitch to Muscara. The batting order is great.”
In the bottom of the third, Centeno hit a three-run home run to left field to make the score 6-0. Centeno finished with four RBI in the first game. It was her first home run of the year and the third of her career.
“That was awesome,” said Centeno. “I love coming up in pressure situations knowing that we have to score and get some runs. I waited for my pitch and she gave me one I was looking for, low and inside.”
In the bottom of the fifth, Rider added two more runs, on a RBI single by freshman Sam Pugh (Elkton, Md./Elkton) and a bases loaded walk by sophomore pinch hitter Samantha Mayer (Neptune/Caldwell).
Rider opened up game two with a three-run home run by junior Brittany Eckett (Jackson/Jackson Memorial) in the first inning. Eckett ended the second game with two hits and four RBI. Her homerun was her eighth of the year and Eckett leads the team with 32 RBI.
“Our whole lineup hit again today which is really good,” Eckett said. “Now they have to pitch to me. It is awesome getting pitches.”
The Broncs continued the momentum into the second inning where they scored three runs, two coming off a single by Centeno. Centeno recorded three hits and two RBI in game two.
“We have been working hard,” said Centeno. “We had a tough week. We needed to pick each other up and make the body language positive. We did a good job of that today.”
In the bottom of the fourth, Rider added another run on an RBI single by Eckett.
The Red Foxes put four on the board in the top of the fifth with four hits.
Rider added another run in the bottom of the sixth on a wild pitch for the final score.
Matreale pitched two scoreless inning to open the second game for the Broncs. Sophomore Kelsey Krisch (Parker, Colo./Council Rock HS North) pitched the final five innings, recording four strikeouts for the victory, her fourth of the year.
“Rachel (Matreale) pitched great all day and Kelsey (Krisch) did a great job in the second game to shut the door,” said Carroll.
For Rider it was its fourth win in the MAAC and they are still undefeated.
“We have to play everyone, but getting the wins at home is big,” said Carroll. “You have to win at home in this league. I am glad we started off at home and got a couple of really nice days to play. They know they can win and they know they can compete in this conference and that is a good thing.”
Rider travels to New Rochelle, N.Y. to take on Iona in a MAAC doubleheader on Sunday at 1:00pm.
“Iona is good,” Carroll said. “They have pitchers that are quicker then most that we have seen so far this year. They have a fairly similar batting order that we do. It is going to be tough. We cannot give extra outs and extra bases. We have to push runs across the plate when we have the opportunities to push the runs across the plate.”
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