College Softball
Rider University 2, Monmouth University 1
Monmouth University 13, Rider University 0 / 5 innings
WEST LONG BRANCH--You only have to out score the opposition by one for a win and the Rider University softball team certainly proved that. Despite being out-scored 14-2, the Broncs split a non-conference doubleheader at Monmouth Thursday afternoon.
In the opener, Rider (12-29-1) scored twice in the third inning on a two-out, two-run double from freshman Heather Muscara (North Bellmore, N.Y./Mepham) and sophomore pitcher Rachael Matreale (Williamstown) made the lead stand up with a complete game four-hitter.
Matreale recorded seven strikeouts to pick up her seventh win of the season.
"The first game was great but I wasn't happy with how the second game played out," said head coach Tricia Carroll. "Rachael pitched great and Heather had a clutch two-out hit that landed right on the line in the opener."
Freshman Alyssa Paul (Toms River/Toms River HS East) and senior Ally Melia (Toms River/Toms River HS North) each had two of Rider's nine hits in game one with junior Jen Steward (Haddon Township) and senior Candice Harris (Henderson, Nev./Coronado) scoring for the Broncs.
Rider started the season winning just twice in nine one-run games but the Broncs have now won two one-run games in a row. "The first game I think gets us over that hump," said Carroll. "We were almost playing not to lose in the close games instead of pulling away and winning. It really reinforces that it is a game of inches and that every play matters."
The night cap was all Monmouth as the Hawks broke a scoreless tie in the second inning with 10 runs on nine hits and added three runs on two hits and two Rider errors in the third inning for the final score.
Sophomore Kelsey Krisch (Parker, Colo./Council Rock HS North) took the loss in game two, working four innings with four strikeouts.
"Kelsey struggled," Carroll said. "We had a couple of plays in their big inning that a few feet here or there, we would have held Monmouth to three or four runs instead of 10. I was really disappointed that our approach at the plate was trying to get all 10 runs in one swing instead of getting base runners and working our way back, one runner at a time."
Freshman Sam Pugh (Elkton, Md./Elkton) had two of Rider's three hits in the second game with Muscara extending her hitting streak to four games.
"I'm concerned that the bats have cooled off a little bit," said Carroll about being blanked four times in the last six games with a .182 team average. "But, the players have been taking extra batting practice and looking at videos of their swings so they are trying to work their way out of it and I have every confidence that they will. We had some better at-bats today and we need to carry that into the weekend."
Former Northeast Conference rivals, Monmouth and Rider have now met 43 times on the softball diamond with the Broncs winning 27 times. This was Rider's first win over the Hawks since the 2005 season. Monmouth swept two games in Lawrenceville last season.
"Monmouth is good," Carroll said. "They are up there in their conference and the split today shows we can hang with anybody."
Rider finished its 2010 non-conference slate 8-23-1 after going 8-24 out of conference last season and 8-22 in 2008. At 4-6 and in fifth place, the Broncs have six conference games remaining including four at home this upcoming weekend. The top four teams qualify for the conference tournament at Canisius May 13-16.
"We can win these final six games," said Carroll. "Obviously we need to take things one inning (and one pitch) at a time but we are capable of making a run at the playoffs."
Rider hosts Manhattan on Saturday in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference doubleheader beginning at 1:00pm at Herb and Joan Young Field on the Lawrenceville campus.
"We are excited about the weekend," Carroll added about hosting the Jaspers Saturday and the Saints of Siena on senior day Sunday afternoon. "It is a matter of getting out there and having some fun and letting our best effort show on the field."
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