College Softball
University of Delaware 6, Rider University 5
University of Delaware 4, Rider University 4 / 8 innings (darkness)
LAWRENCEVILLE--The Rider University softball team lost game one against Delaware but held on for a tie in the night cap at Herb and Joan Young Field on the campus of Rider University Wednesday afternoon.
In the opener, Rider (8-18-1) jumped out to a 3-0 first inning lead on an RBI single by junior Jen Steward (Haddon Twp.) and a two-run home run by junior Brittany Eckett (Jackson/Jackson Memorial). Steward had two hits and scored twice in the game.
After Delaware (10-20-1) scored twice in the fourth to cut the Bronc lead to one, Rider rebounded in the sixth inning with Eckett's second home run of the game, a two-run shot to left center that gave Rider a 5-2 lead. For Eckett it was her seventh home run of the season and she finished with four RBI in the game.
"I'm seeing a lot more pitches because everyone in the lineup can hit the ball," Eckett said. "Pitchers can't pitch around me because of the offensive threats from everyone and I'm using that to my advantage."
Leading 5-2 in the seventh, the Blue Hens took advantage of four Bronc errors to score four times and take a 6-5 lead. Rider was retired in order in the bottom of the seventh for the final score.
"I love our batting order," said head coach Tricia Carroll. "Our batting order did its job in the last four games (against Lehigh and Delaware). The frustrating part is that what we did in the last inning (four errors) you would think that was a total for a game and not for a half inning. We made errors and that was on top of some very bad decisions in not getting at least one out."
Sophomore Rachael Matreale (Williamstown) went the distance for the Broncs, recording four strikeouts and allowing only two earned runs.
"We need to show that we can shut the door on teams," Carroll added. "We have to be mentally ready on every pitch. We are finding creative ways to lose ball games and we need to learn how to win. We need to be tougher. We have talent, enough talent to win the conference and we need to play better than we did yesterday and today."
Trailing 1-0 in game two, Rider scored twice in the third on a two-run single by junior Amanda Centeno (Ventura, Calif./Buena).
After Delaware tied the game in the fifth, Rider responded with Centeno hitting a two-out RBI single and freshman Heather Muscara (North Bellmore, N.Y./Mepham) followed with an RBI double to give the Broncs a two-run lead. Muscara was held hitless in the first game, ending a 12-game hitting streak.
"Amanda has come up big and Eckett has done such a great job," Carroll said. "It's not even the home runs, she is doing what she needs to do with each pitch (not trying too much) and that is huge for us. She is being very patient."
"I look for those pressure situations," said Centeno. "I don't get nervous. I get pumped up and I feel that I will be successful for my team. I am always looking to help out with my bat."
The Blue Hens scored twice in the seventh and tied the game on a Rider error with two outs.
Each team batted in the eighth inning before the game was called due to darkness.
Junior Sam Bennett (Staten Island, N.Y./Tottenville) pitched all eight innings for Rider, allowing only two earned runs while striking out three. "Every pitch counts," Bennett said. "You throw a good game and mess up on one pitch and that can be the downfall of everything. This was a learning experience and we need to use this and make adjustments for Saturday."
"Sam pitched great," Carroll said. "She gives us a workman like effort every time she takes the field."
Rider hosts Marist in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference doubleheader on Saturday at 1:00pm in Lawrenceville.
"We know we could have played better," Eckett said. "We just have to close games out before the other team gains any momentum. We are looking to defend our home turf this weekend."
"The positive is that we now know we can compete with teams like Lehigh and Delaware," Centeno said about the last four games in which Rider had a chance to win three. "Coach Carroll has been telling us one pitch at a time and I think we sometimes out think ourselves. We need to just play our games and think positive and have fun."
"We have fixable issues," Carroll added. "The little things you don't even think about, backing up plays, hitting cutoffs, being in the right position, a wild pitch, walk or passed ball, those are things that are costing us games and the teams that we have scheduled are too good and will take advantage of every mistake. We need to recognize and fix the little things. Being close is not acceptable, it is time to start winning these games."
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