College Softball
Rider University 2, Fairfield University 0 / 8 innings
Rider University 12, Fairfield University 2 / 5 innings
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
Eckett 100 career hits
FAIRFIELD, Conn.--The Rider University softball team finished the 2010 season with a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference sweep at Fairfield University Sunday afternoon.
In the opener, sophomore Rachael Matreale (Williamstown) threw an eight inning complete game shutout, three-hitter, recording six strikeouts.
"The first game was awesome," said head coach Tricia Carroll. "Rachael pitched great and we played solid defense."
Sophomore Lucy Higgins (Westminster, Mass./Notre Dame Academy) hit a one-out double in the top of the eighth inning with senior Ally Melia (Toms River/Toms River HS North) hitting an RBI double to break the scoreless tie. Junior Amanda Centeno (Ventura, Calif./Buena) followed with an infield hit to give the Broncs a 2-0 lead. Centeno had two hits in the first game and now has 97 hits in her career.
"We kept battling and made adjustments in the batter's box and finally broke through," Carroll said. "The energy was good and I'm just really proud of the team winning twice even though the playoffs were out of reach."
Based on the results from Saturday, even with the sweep, the Broncs missed the playoffs by one game for the second straight season.
"We knew we were playing for fifth," Carroll added. "We wanted to finish strong and win these games. Everything we do, we want to do well, play well and win. No matter what, it matters, to me and the team."
Trailing 1-0 in the second inning of game two, Rider (16-31-1, 8-8 MAAC) tied it on a Fairfield error and in the third inning, the Broncs used three hits including a two-run single by junior Brittany Eckett (Jackson/Jackson Memorial) and another Stag error to plate four runs. Eckett had two hits in the game including career hit 100.
Eckett is the 43rd Bronc with 100 career hits.
Senior Candice Harris (Henderson, Nev./Coronado) hit her fifth home run of the season in the fourth to give the Broncs a 7-1 lead and Rider put the game away with five runs in the fifth, including a three-run pinch hit double by sophomore Samantha Mayer (Neptune).
Also for Rider, junior Jen Steward (Haddon Twp.) had two hits and two runs scored.
Matreale won the second game with a five-inning complete game effort, allowing only three hits with one strikeout for her 11th win of the season.
"We showed solid character in that we didn't let the adversity of missing post-season affect our play," said Carroll. "We had the passion to play through the disappointment and that really showed me something about the squad. I'm very proud of all of them."
This is the second straight season that Rider has been eliminated on the final weekend of the season and the second year in a row with 16 wins. Last season, the Broncs were 16-32, 8-8 in the MAAC.
"It would have been an injustice to the other members of the conference if we didn't show up and give our best effort," Carroll said. "We play all of the games to win and there was no question that we were going to give 100 percent. We aim to do that every time we step onto the field and Fairfield gave their best effort as well. It wasn't their day but it wasn't for a lack of effort."
Fairfield and Rider have now met 30 times in a series that began in 1998 with the Broncs winning nine times. Rider last defeated the Stags in 2007.
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