College Softball - Rebel Spring Games
Rider University 10, Hartford 9 (11 innings)
Yale 7, Rider University 2

KISSIMMEE, Fla.--The Rider University softball team split two games at the Rebel Spring Games in Florida Sunday.

In the opener, Rider rallied from two, three-run deficits to tie the game in extra innings and then won it on an RBI single by senior Jen Steward (Haddon Township) in the bottom of the 11th.  Steward finished with three hits, three RBI and scored twice.

"I've been involved in a few games that have gone that long," said head coach Tricia Carroll.  "One of the games I think was in 1997 but we lost 1-0 to Princeton.  I don't remember too many 10-9 games that saw both teams combine for 13 runs after the seventh.  This was rare."

Trailing 3-0 in the bottom of the third, the Broncs got on the board on a Hartford throwing error and tied the game at three in the fifth on a Steward RBI single and an RBI double from freshman Kehli Washington (New Rochelle, N.Y./New Rochelle).  Washington scored three times in the first game.

"We were scrappy," Carroll said.  Heather had a few big hits (tied the game in the ninth) and Jen came up with the winning RBI.  It was a team effort to keep the game going and offensively at least, we made some big plays.  (Alyssa) Paul had a big pinch hit as well."

Hartford scored three times on only one hit and three Rider errors in the top of the eighth before sophomore Heather Muscara (North Bellmore, N.Y./Mepham) hit an RBI single and sophomore pinch hitter Alyssa Paul (Toms River/Toms River HS East) retied the game with a two-out, two-run single in the bottom of the eighth.

The Hawks again took advantage of a Rider error and two more hits to take a 9-6 lead in the top of the ninth. 

An RBI single by Steward, an RBI groundout and a one-out RBI single by Muscara tied the game at nine in the bottom of the ninth inning.  Muscara had three hits and two RBI in the opener. 

Junior Rachael Matreale (Williamstown) went all 11 innings, allowing only three earned runs while recording eight strikeouts for her first win of the season.

"Rachael pitched great," Carroll said.  "Defensively, we gave Hartford some runs and Rachael battled and really kept us in the game."

For Rider (2-7) in the nightcap, freshman Laura Gallagher (Flanders/Mendham) had two hits and scored a run with Washington also adding two hits and a run scored.

Trailing 1-0 in the top of the third, Gallaher and Washington led off with back to back singles and  both scored when senior Amanda Centeno (Ventura, Calif./Buena) hit a two-run double to give the Broncs a 2-1 lead.  Centeno had three hits in the doubleheader and is on a five-game hitting streak.

The Bulldogs retook the lead, 3-2 in the bottom of the third on a two-run double and added two more runs in the fourth on an RBI single and sacrifice fly.

Four hits in the bottom of the fifth inning plated two more runs for Yale (6-2) accounting for the final 7-2 score.

Freshman Krysti Maronski (Woodbury Heights/G.C.I.T.), the Metro Atlantic  Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week last week, went the distance for the Broncs in the circle, allowing seven runs (all earned) while recording three strikeouts.

"The best part of the day was that we had some well hit balls," Carroll said.  "We just want them to play hard and be a scrappy competitive team and we showed that today, in both games."

Rider has a quick turn around, playing Army and Youngstown State Monday morning at the Rebel games.

"We have an off day on Tuesday so we have to get ready really quickly for the two games tomorrow," Carroll added.  "That's how the schedule is down here and I expect that we will be ready to go."

-RU-