College Softball
Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne 5, Rider University 0
Presbyterian / Rider PPD. Rain
North Carolina A&T Invitational
GREENSBORO, N.C.--The Rider University softball team opened the 2011 season with a loss at the North Carolina A&T Invitational Friday afternoon. Rider's second game against Presbyterian was rained out and will be made up on Saturday.
For Rider (0-1) in the opener against IPFW, senior Brittany Eckett (Jackson/Jackson Memorial) and sophomore Sam Pugh (Elkton, Md./Elkton) each had singles as the Broncs were shutout on two hits.
"We played scared and didn't have too many good at-bats," said head coach Tricia Carroll. "We didn't execute and I'm disappointed in the effort."
Junior Rachael Matreale (Williamstown) threw a complete game, recording three strikeouts while allowing only two earned runs as Rider made three errors.
IPFW broke a scoreless tie in the second inning with a two-out RBI single and extended its lead to 4-0 with three runs in the fourth on two hits and two Bronc errors.
A passed ball accounted for the final score in the fifth inning.
This was the first meeting between Rider and IPFW.
"There were glimpses and some positives," Carroll said. "With that said, playing 60 percent of a game isn't going to win you too many of them. I'm not making excuses that it is early in the season. Our players have played enough games in their careers and know how to play the game. I'm hoping this was an apparition."
On Saturday's revised schedule, Rider plays Presbyterian and Western Carolina before finishing the tournament against the host Aggies of N.C. A&T Sunday.
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