College Softball
Stony Brook University 2, Rider University 1
Stony Brook University 10, Rider University 1 / 5 innings
STONY BROOK, N.Y.--The Rider University softball team lost a non-conference doubleheader at Stony Brook University Saturday afternoon.
In the opener, despite a three-hitter from sophomore Rachael Matreale (Williamstown), the Broncs lost to the Seawolves 2-1 when Stony Brook broke a 1-1 tie in the seventh on a wild pitch.
Matreale recorded a career-high 10 strikeouts but walked five.
"Rachael pitched very well," said head coach Tricia Carroll. "It started raining in the seventh inning and we did not handle that very well. Rachael started rushing a little and Stony Brook was able to take advantage. She pitched well enough to win and the weather got to her which was unfortunate because it was a really good game."
Trailing 1-0 in the fourth, Rider (10-22-1) tied the game on a single to shortstop by junior Amanda Centeno (Ventura, Calif./Buena), scoring junior Jen Steward (Haddon Township) who led off the inning with a single. Centeno had two of Rider's four hits in game one.
"I thought we did some nice things at the plate," Carroll said. "We had chances; it was a good game. I told them after the contest that we need to find a way to start winning these one-run games. We're not doing this to be competitive, we are playing to win. It's great to compete, don't get me wrong but it is time to win these games."
The Broncs are 2-6 in one-run games this season.
In game two, the Broncs took a 1-0 lead in the third inning on an RBI walk by freshman catcher Sam Pugh (Elkton, Md./Elkton), which scored Steward. Steward had led off with a walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch and went to third on a single by Centeno.
Centeno leads Rider with eight multiple hit games this season and had four of Rider's nine hits on the day.
"Amanda is very coachable and has been working extremely hard," Carroll said. "Her success isn't an accident, she works after practice to understand the concepts of hitting and that extra work has paid off."
The Seawolves tied the game in the bottom of the third and scored twice in the fourth to take a 3-1 lead.
Stony Brook plated seven runs in the fifth to end the game on the mercy rule, on only two hits. The Seawolves took advantage of two walks, a wild pitch, passed ball, error, hit by pitch and a double before a three-run home run ended it.
Sophomore Kelsey Krisch (Parker, Colo./Council Rock HS North) took the loss for Rider in game two.
"The second game was disappointing," Carroll said. "There was a play at the plate that we didn't make, the ball beat the runner and she made a great slide to avoid the tag and we let that play affect the next several plays and turned a two-run deficit into a nine-run loss. Things are going to happen from time to time, that's softball. But we didn't use any of the tools that we have to bring ourselves back, emotionally and mentally."
Rider has won five of the eight games all-time against Stony Brook in a series that started in 1999. The Broncs last played the Seawolves during the 2004 season, sweeping two games from Stony Brook in Greenville, North Carolina.
"Stony Brook is one of the best teams in the America East Conference," Carroll added.
The Broncs host Villanova in a non-conference doubleheader on April 21 at 3:00pm at Herb and Joan Young Field on the Lawrenceville campus.
"Villanova is a strong BIG EAST team," Carroll said. "We are playing tough teams that are going to prepare us for the rest of the conference schedule."
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