College Softball
Army 2, Rider University 0
Rider University 4, Army 1
LAWRENCEVILLE--The Rider University softball team opened the home portion of the 2011 schedule by splitting two games against Army at Herb and Joan Young Field on Sunday.
"Our energy was good today," said head coach Tricia Carroll. "Our pitchers are good and we know we have some speed. On offense, we have to create our own luck a little bit."
For Rider (5-16), freshman Krysti Maronski (Woodbury Heights/GCIT) threw a complete game three-hitter, recording six strikeouts as the Broncs salvaged game two by a 4-1 score.
"Once we got some runs, I was really relaxed in the circle," Maronski said. "I just focused on thinking about each pitch and not about the whole game. I was getting the calls on the outside corner and I was able to fool them with by curveball."
"Krysti looked good," Carroll said. "She bounced back from a couple tough outings in Florida and did well. We need to know that we have that one-two punch (with Rachael) heading into conference. You can't over look that Heather (pitching coach Heather Beintema) called two great games today."
Army took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on an RBI groundout before the Broncs tied the game in the bottom half of the inning on an RBI double by senior Brittany Eckett (Jackson/Jackson Memorial).
Eckett hit a sacrifice fly in the third inning to give Rider a 2-1 lead and the Broncs used a Black Knight error and an RBI single by freshman Ally Correll (Ewing) to take a three-run lead.
Also for the Broncs in game two, freshman Lisa Blanton (Hilliard, Fla./Hilliard) had two hits including a double with sophomore Alyssa Paul (Toms River/Toms River HS East) adding a triple.
"I felt like I had a good day both defensively and offensively," Blanton said. "When our pitchers are on, it is relaxing to be out on the field with them. At the plate, I just listened to what the coaches have been saying, get up, be relaxed and know that you can do it."
In the opener, Rider out-hit the Black Knights five to four but lost the battle where it counted by a 2-0 score.
Army took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a passed ball and the Black Knights added an insurance run in the sixth inning on a sacrifice fly for the final score.
"That was a tough play for Jen," Carroll said about the passed ball. "She has been great for us and has played anywhere that we have needed her. Due to an injury, we had to have her behind the plate today and she did a nice job but didn't get that one pitch. I'm more focused on us hitting two weak ground balls with the bases loaded and no one out in the seventh inning when we had a chance to tie it."
Junior Rachael Matreale (Williamstown) struck out seven and allowed only one earned run but picked up the loss.
"Rachael pitched great," Carroll said. "Her composure was good. She is our go to player and is a veteran. She is the number one pitcher on the staff for a reason, she has stepped up and earned it and we expect exactly what she gave us today."
Freshman Kehli Washington (New Rochelle, N.Y./New Rochelle) had three of Rider's five hits in the opener with Eckett and senior Jen Steward (Haddon Twp.) also picking up hits.
Rider and Army met at the Rebel Spring Games on March 14 with the Black Knights winning 10-3.
The teams met three times last season, at the Rebel Games with Army winning 7-3 on March 18 and at West Point where the Broncs and Black Knights split a doubleheader on March 28 with Rider winning 9-7 and Army taking the second game 9-6.
Rider has won 10 of the 22 games in the series that started in 1978.
"We can beat any team that we play and those teams can beat us," Carroll added about splitting a doubleheader for the second day in a row. "All of the teams are evenly matched and I expected all of the games we play to be competitive."
"The defense made some nice plays behind me," Maronski added. "Overall, the weekend was good and the offense, since we have gotten back from Florida has been stepping up."
Rider travels to Saint Joseph's for a non-conference game on March 30 at 4pm.
"I like the feel of the team," Carroll added. "We've had a lot of things not go our way to start the season (injuries etc...). Saint Joseph's is tough. I like playing good teams and it will be a good test."
"I think we are coming together as a team," Blanton added. "I feel like we had more energy and we picked it up in the second game and got key hits when they were needed. Everyone wants everyone else to do well and we are for each other. Knowing your teammates are there to back you up is really big."
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