College Softball
Rider University 2, Army 1 (8)
Penn Spring Invitational
PHILADELPHIA, Pa.--The Rider University softball team won an extra inning battle over Army, 2-1 on the opening day of the Penn Spring Invitational Friday evening.
Using the international tie-breaker rule, Rider (7-15-1) had a runner placed on second base to start the eighth inning and junior Alyssa Paul (Toms River/Toms River HS East) came through with a one out single, scoring senior Samantha Mayer (Neptune).
Paul had two of Rider's six hits in the game.
"It was good to help get the team started on a positive note," Paul said. "I'm always looking for ways to help the team and getting the winning hit and coming through for them is just icing on the cake."
"Alyssa came up big," said head coach Tricia Carroll. "She had a huge hit in the last inning and a big hit in the first inning that gave us the lead."
Senior Rachael Matreale (Williamstown) threw a complete game, recording seven strikeouts and allowed one walk while scattering five hits for her sixth win of the season.
"It was a great pitcher's dual," Carroll said. "Rachael (Matreale) and Lashley from Army both pitched very well."
Matreale retired 10 of the last 11 batters she faced.
With one out in the first inning, Paul, an 85-game veteran, hit her first career home run, a solo shot to leftfield, giving Rider a 1-0 lead.
Freshman Gina McCool (Marlton/Cherokee) and junior Sam Pugh (Elkton, Md./Elkton) each followed with singles but the Broncs were unable to push another run across.
McCool also had two hits in the game.
The Black Knights retired 12 Bronc batters in a row before sophomore Kehli Washington (Lulea, Sweden/New Rochelle) reached on a bunt single with two outs in the top of the fifth inning for Rider.
"I thought we would keep hitting the ball after the first inning but Army shut us down," Carroll said. Until the eighth inning rally, Army had retired 19 of 20 Bronc batters.
Army (12-10) tied the game 1-1 in the bottom of the fifth inning on an RBI double with two outs.
This is Rider's first win in a one-run game situation this season (1-3) and the Broncs improved to 2-2 in extra inning games in 2012.
Rider has won 11 of the 23 games in the series that started in 1978 including two in a row and three of the last four. The Black Knights defeated the Broncs 10-3 at the Rebel Spring Games in 2011 and the teams split two games at Herb and Joan Young Field in the 2011 home opener with Rider winning 4-1 in the second game.
The Broncs have won two straight.
Rider plays Pennsylvania and Villanova on Saturday with the consolation and championship games Sunday afternoon, weather permitting.
Penn defeated Villanova 3-1 in the opening game of the invitational.
"It was a great defensive effort by both teams and I expect more of the same during the rest of the tournament," Carroll added.
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