College Softball - Rebel Spring Games
Army 10, Rider University 3
Youngstown State 3, Rider University 2 / 10 innings

KISSIMMEE, Fla.--The Rider University softball team lost twice on Monday at the Rebel Spring Games in Florida.

In the second game, Rider (2-9) took the Penguins of Youngstown State to extra innings before losing 3-2.

"The second game was a great game," said head coach Tricia Carroll.  "We have to play scrappy and with energy and we did that against YSU."

Trailing 1-0 in the fourth inning, the Broncs tied the game on a pinch hit RBI single by sophomore Sam Pugh (Elkton, Md./Elkton), scoring junior Samantha Mayer (Neptune) who reached on a fielder's choice.

Rider took a 2-1 lead in the top of the eighth on an RBI single to left center by senior Amanda Centeno (Ventura, Calif./Buena) with Youngstown State tying the game in the bottom of the eighth on a sacrifice bunt and single to right center.  Centeno, who is on a seven game hitting streak, had three of Rider's 13 hits in the two games and is batting .353 on the trip and .370 (10/27) on the hitting streak.

"Amanda is a senior and we count on her to come through," Carroll said.  "She plays big."

The Penguins won the game in the bottom of the 10th on a sacrifice fly.

Junior Rachael Matreale (Williamstown) went the distance for Rider, allowing only one earned run while recording five strikeouts.

"Rachael pitched well," Carroll said.  "We used everyone and had some chances to win the game.  That is the kind of energy and effort we need all the time."

Rider is now 1-2 this season in extra inning games.

In the opener against Army, despite two hits each from freshman Kehli Washington (New Rochelle, N.Y./New Rochelle) and Centeno, the Broncs lost to the Black Knights 10-3.

"Kehli has been great," Carroll said.  "She is getting better every game.  She is confident and her bat control is really good.  She is putting the ball in play where she wants to and she is able to use her speed.  She's fast."

Trailing 4-0, the Broncs rallied for three runs in the bottom of third inning on RBI singles by Centeno, Mayer and an Army balk to get within one at 4-3.

Army put the game away in the fifth, scoring four times on five hits and the Black Knights scored single runs in the sixth and seventh innings for the final score.

"The first game, they played like we were still in bed," said Carroll about the 9am start against Army.  "We just didn't play very well in the opener."

Junior Kelsey Krisch (Parker, Colo./Council Rock HS North) started and went four and two-thirds innings, recording four strikeouts.

The Broncs have lost three straight.

After an off day on Tuesday, Rider plays Lafayette and Eastern Illinois at the Rebel Games on Wednesday.

"All of the teams that are on our schedule, we can be competitive with," Carroll said.  "Some are a little tougher than others but we are all very similar and you have to show up ready to play every day.  We know we can play with anyone and we need to show that."

-RU-