College Softball
Canisius College 12, Rider University 2 / 5 innings
Canisius College 8, Rider University 0 / 5 innings
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
BUFFALO, N.Y.--The Rider University softball team was swept by Canisius in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference doubleheader on Sunday afternoon in Buffalo.
"This is not how we wanted to come home from Buffalo," said head coach Tricia Carroll. "This is obviously disappointing. Canisius is a good team and they hit our mistakes very hard."
In the opener, Rider (11-28-1, 4-6 MAAC) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning on RBI singles by junior Amanda Centeno (Ventura, Calif./Buena) and freshman Heather Muscara (North Bellmore, N.Y./Mepham). Muscara had two of Rider's seven hits in the doubleheader.
Canisius (26-14, 8-2 MAAC) tied the game in the bottom of the first on a two-run home run and took a five-run lead in the second inning, keyed by a three RBI triple.
The Golden Griffins ended the game on a grand slam in the fifth inning.
Canisius held the Broncs to only one hit after the first inning and three hits in the game.
Sophomore Rachael Matreale (Williamstown) took the loss, working four and one-third innings with one strikeout.
In the second game, Rider was held to four hits and shutout for the third time in the past four games.
"We've been playing much better offensively than we showed this weekend," Carroll said about the team's .135 batting average in the four game Western, New York swing. "I thought the energy was good and the players battled; we just couldn't get anything going."
Canisius took a 1-0 first inning lead on a wild pitch and used two run scoring singles to take a 3-0 lead in the second.
The Golden Griffins took advantage of two walks, two more RBI singles and a two-run double to plate five runs in the third inning.
Matreale worked the first two innings and took the loss with sophomore Kelsey Krisch (Parker, Colo./Council Rock HS North) working the final two innings.
After starting 4-0 in MAAC play, Rider has lost six straight conference games, all on the road. The Broncs host Manhattan and Siena in MAAC play next weekend before traveling to Fairfield May 9 for a conference doubleheader to finish the MAAC slate.
"We are going to have to take things one play, one pitch at a time," Carroll said. "We have to play well. We will probably have to win 10 games in conference play to make the four-team playoffs and we still have a chance to do that. I'm glad four of the final six are at home and we are capable of sweeping through the rest of the conference. I think part of what happens will be dictated on how we handle things emotionally."
Canisius has won 20 of the 32 games in the series that started in 1991. The teams split two MAAC games in Lawrenceville last season.
Rider travels to Lafayette for a non-conference doubleheader on Tuesday.
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