College Softball
Manhattan College 12, Rider University 0 / 5 innings
Rider University 7, Manhattan College 5
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
LAWRENCEVILLE--After being shutout in the opener, the Rider University softball team battled back for a 7-5 win in the nightcap, to keep its hopes mathematically alive for a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference playoff berth as one of the top four teams in the conference standings.
"The second game was huge, HUGE," said head coach Tricia Carroll. "We are still alive. It was big. I'm proud of the way we battled."
Tied at four in the fifth inning of game two, senior Candice Harris (Henderson, Nev./Coronado) hit a solo home run and junior Brittany Eckett (Jackson/Jackson Memorial) followed with a two-run home run to right center to give the Broncs a 7-4 lead.
"I've tried to be patient at the plate," said Eckett who leads Rider with nine home runs. "I got a middle to high pitch and after I hit it, it felt pretty good. I've been struggling a little, hitting the ball right at the defense and it feels pretty good that I was able to put Rider back on top."
"We just focused on the process and weren't obsessed with the outcome," said Harris who has four home runs this season, three in the last 10 days. "We have our backs against the wall and we need to sweep these next four games and we have the talent to accomplish that. I'm seeing the ball a little better, I altered my swing a little bit and I'm just trying to put the ball in play."
Manhattan scored once in the seventh and left the bases loaded when the final out was made at third base. The Jaspers left 15 runners on base in the game.
Trailing 2-0 in the second inning, Rider (13-30-1) tied the game on a wild pitch and infield RBI single by senior Megan Kozlowski (Richboro, Pa./Council Rock HS North).
The Broncs took a 4-2 lead in the third inning on an RBI double by Harris and a sacrifice fly by Eckett. Harris scored twice in the second game with Eckett compiling three RBI.
Sophomore Rachael Matreale (Williamstown) went the distance, recording three strikeouts for her eighth win of the season.
"Rachael battled and shut down a pretty good hitting team in Manhattan," Carroll said. "She got banged up a little in the first game and then got hit by a line drive but she hung in there for us and when the game got out of hand, we got her out of there to save her for the second game."
Also for Rider in game two, junior Amanda Centeno (Ventura, Calif./Buena) had two hits with senior Ally Melia (Toms River/Toms River HS North) adding a double.
The opener was all Manhattan (18-20-1, 4-6 MAAC) as the Jaspers scored once in the first and seven times on four hits and one Bronc error in the second.
The Jaspers added four runs in the third inning and held Rider to only five hits in the five inning game.
Matreale went two innings plus three batters before junior Sam Bennett (Staten Island, N.Y./Tottenville) settled things down for Rider, recording five strikeouts in three innings of work, allowing only two hits and one earned run.
"Sam ate up some innings for us," Carroll said. "I'm proud of her for coming into a tough spot (trailing 11-0) and getting outs for us."
The Broncs and Jaspers have now met 26 times with Rider winning 14. Last season, the teams split two MAAC games in Riverdale, New York. In 2008 and 2007, the teams also split their two conference games. Manhattan swept Rider in 2006 and 2005 and the teams split in 2004.
Rider hosts Siena in a MAAC doubleheader at 1pm on Sunday at Herb and Joan Young Field on the Lawrenceville campus.
"We need to take one pitch at a time, it's all we can do," Carroll added. "If we do that and compete and everyone does their job, from the starters to the last player on the bench, we'll have a good day."
In between games, the Broncs will honor their four graduating seniors, Harris, Kozlowski, Melia and Derrin Minunni (Cohoes, N.Y./Shaker).
"I'm excited for Sunday," Harris added. "We are looking to bring the energy from the second game into tomorrow. It's been a really good run and as a senior I want to leave the field for the last time with two wins."
"It's for the seniors on Sunday," Eckett added. "They are my girls and I don't want to leave them with anything but two wins."
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