College Softball - Rebel Spring Games
Rider University 5, Fairleigh Dickinson University 2
University Nebraska-Omaha 3, Rider University 0
KISSIMMEE, Fla.--The Rider University softball team split two contests at the Rebel Spring Games in Florida on Wednesday.
On Wednesday morning, Rider defeated Fairleigh Dickinson 5-2 behind a nine strikeout, no walk, complete game performance from senior Rachael Matreale (Williamstown).
"I'm not sure which is more impressive," said head coach Tricia Carroll. "The strikeouts are great and no walks are even better. Rachael has been pitching well and that kind of effort keeps the opponent's lineup from getting turned over."
Combined on the day, Rider's pitching allowed only one walk in 14 innings of work.
Matreale, who was named Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week twice in the last two weeks, has accounted for all four of Rider's wins this season and has 57 strikeouts in 54 2/3 innings this season.
Rider (4-11-1) opened the scoring in the second inning when freshman Allysen Breeden (Hagerstown, Md./North Hagerstown) led off with a single to right field and eventually scored when junior Heather Muscara (North Bellmore, N.Y./Mepham) reached on an error. Breeden had two hits for Rider on Wednesday.
The Broncs put together four hits in the fifth inning, including an RBI single from junior Sam Pugh (Elkton, Md./Elkton), a two-run double by freshman Lauren Davies (Pittsburgh, Pa./Seneca Valley) and an RBI single from senior Samantha Mayer (Neptune) as Rider went ahead 5-0. Davies also had two hits for the Broncs Wednesday.
"Getting the insurance runs in the fifth inning was big," Carroll said. "Lauren had a 10-pitch at-bat and that was a great effort by her. That's good even without the hit but staying in the count that long really swung the momentum. Also Sam (Pugh), she had a nice hit and has been hitting the ball well for us."
FDU (9-3) scored twice in the bottom of the fifth for the final score.
The Broncs were held hitless into the fourth inning and to two hits overall, losing to Nebraska-Omaha 3-0 in the afternoon game.
Nebraska-Omaha took a 2-0 lead in the second inning on a two-run single and added an insurance run with an RBI single in the sixth inning.
Sophomore Krysti Maronski (Woodbury Heights/GCIT) recorded four strikeouts in a complete game effort for Rider.
"Krysti threw well and we didn't give her much to work with in the second game," said Carroll. "We had some players out of the line up with injuries and we're still sorting the batting order out a little bit. But she threw well enough for us to get the win for her. UNO's pitcher did a nice job keeping us off balance."
Also for Rider, junior Alyssa Paul (Toms River/Toms River HS East) had two hits in the doubleheader and has reached base safely in five straight games.
Rider defeated Nebraska-Omaha 2-0 on Monday, behind a complete-game three hitter from Matreale.
The Broncs face UW-Green Bay and Cleveland State in Florida on Friday before completing the southern trip against Wagner and Howard Saturday afternoon.
"Our goal is to get better every day," Carroll added. "We want to tighten a few things up offensively and we'll be fine. "The pitching is coming around and I expect that to continue. We are getting better and gaining more confidence."
-RU-
