College Softball
UW Green Bay 5, Rider University 1
Colgate 6, Rider University 1
KISSIMMEE, Fla.-The Rider University softball team lost twice on the final day of the Rebel Spring Games in Florida on Saturday.
"We'll be happy to come home," said head coach Tricia Carroll. "We're just not hitting the ball."
For Rider (3-14) in the opener, sophomore Sam Pugh (Elkton, Md./Elkton) gave the Broncs a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a two-out RBI single, scoring senior Jen Steward (Haddon Twp.).
Wisconsin-Green Bay tied the game in the bottom of the second on an RBI single and took a 2-1 lead on an RBI double in the third inning.
The Phoenix put together three hits in the fifth inning, scoring twice for the final score.
Junior Kelsey Krisch (Parker, Colo./Council Rock HS North) started and went four and a third innings with one strikeout before being relieved by freshman Krysti Maronski (Woodbury Heights/G.C.I.T.) who recorded one strikeout in the final one and two thirds innings.
"The pitching has kept us in the games," Carroll said. "You should be able to give up a few runs and still be in the game. We are giving up too many unearned runs. We are not good enough yet to come back from five runs down."
Freshman Kehli Washington (New Rochelle, N.Y./New Rochelle) had two of Rider's four hits in the first game.
In the second game, Rider was again held to four hits, two by Steward in a 6-1 loss to Colgate.
Trailing 2-0 in the first inning, Rider got on the board with Pugh knocking in Steward for the only Bronc run.
Colgate scored on an error in the fourth inning and used a fielder's choice to make it 4-1 in the fifth.
The Raiders used three hits and a Bronc error to plate two runs in the seventh for the final score.
Junior Rachael Matreale (Williamstown) went six innings, recording five strikeouts.
"Rachael did ok today," Carroll said. "She had a good week. We are not scoring runs and we are giving up too many unearned runs. It is as simple as that."
The 2011 home opener is Wednesday against Lafayette at 3pm at Herb and Joan Young Field on the Lawrenceville, New Jersey campus.
"It will be good to get some home games," Carroll added. "We are home Wednesday and Sunday. We have about seven games left before the conference schedule and we still need to figure some things out. We are excited to be coming home."
-RU-
