College Softball
Lafayette 5, Rider University 2
Eastern Illinois 9, Rider University 0 / 5 innings

KISSIMMEE, Fla.--The Broncs were swept on Wednesday at the Rebel Spring Games in Florida.

For Rider (2-11) in the opener, sophomore Sam Pugh (Elkton, Md./Elkton) had two hits including a double with senior Amanda Centeno (Ventura, Calif./Buena) also adding a double.

Centeno's RBI double gave the Broncs a 1-0 lead against Lafayette.  Centeno had one of Rider's three hits in game two and is now on a nine-game hitting streak.

The Leopards took a 2-1 lead in the second inning on three hits and a Rider error.

Lafayette put together four hits to extend the lead to 5-1 in the fourth inning before Rider battled back, scoring a run on a bases loaded walk for the final score.

"We couldn't quite come up with the break open hit," said head coach Tricia Carroll.  "We had the bases loaded and no one out and hit the ball hard, but right at the fielder.  It was kind of how the day went."

Junior Rachael Matreale (Williamstown) went the distance, recording five strikeouts for the Broncs.

"It was a little bit of a disappointing day," Carroll added.  "Rachael pitched ok, not great but ok and Lafayette was just a couple of hits better than us."

In the night cap, Eastern Illinois scored in every inning and held Rider to three hits, defeating the Broncs 9-0.

"Eastern Illinois is a big hitting team," Carroll said.  "We hit some right at them but they really hit the ball well."

The Panthers scored three times in the first inning, single runs in the second and third and put the game away with four runs on four hits in the fourth inning.

Freshman Krysti Maronski (Woodbury Heights/G.C.I.T) took the loss for Rider, recording one strikeout in four innings pitched.

The Broncs return to action at the Rebel Games on Friday, facing Fairleigh Dickinson and Butler.

"I wish we were playing on Thursday," Carroll added.  "With this bad taste in your mouth from the day, you want to get right back out there.  We'll take the day, get some rest and hopefully finish the week strong on Friday and Saturday."

-RU-