College Softball
Marist College 7 Rider University 4
Rider University 5 George Mason University 0
Patriot Classic
FAIRFAX, Va.--On the strength of a complete game two-hit shutout by senior Rachael Matreale (Williamstown), the Rider University softball team defeated host George Mason on Saturday evening to split two games in the Patriot Classic tournament.
"Rachael pitched awesome in the second game," said head coach Tricia Carroll. "She didn't walk anyone and just went out and threw ground balls. She made it pretty easy for the defense and when they were tested, they made all of the plays."
Rider was rained out in the tournament opener Friday afternoon.
Matreale recorded six strikeouts to pickup her first win of the season.
Tied at 0-0, Rider (1-6) scored all of its runs in the fourth inning, stringing together three hits, combined with a Patriot error.
Freshman Amanda Irving (Westminster, Md./Westminster) led off the inning with a walk and advanced to second on a bunt single by freshman Gina McCool (Marlton/Cherokee). After a ground out, freshman Allysen Breeden (Hagerstown, Md./North Hagerstown) hit a three-run home run to left field.
"Allysen hit a shot," Carroll said, describing the first home run in the career of her designated hitter. "That thing was gone quick. I really was most impressed with how composed she has played the first couple weeks of the season."
Breeden, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week for all games the opening week of the season, had two of Rider's five hits in the second game and four hits overall in the doubleheader and leads the team with a .421 average.
After freshman Lauren Davies (Pittsburgh, Pa./Seneca Valley) reached on an error with two outs in the fourth, junior Sam Pugh (Elkton, Md./Elkton) followed with a two-run home run for the final score.
In the opener against Marist, Rider trailed 5-0 before scoring three times in the second inning on two hits and two Red Fox errors.
"The first game was kind of a bummer," Carroll said. "There were a couple of miscommunication plays that happened and if they don't, we probably win the game. We gave Marist some extra batters on things that don't really show up in the box score."
Breeden doubled to left centerfield, scoring junior Alyssa Paul (Toms River/Toms River HS East) who reached on an error to lead off the inning. Breeden scored on the second error of the inning and junior Heather Muscara (North Bellmore, N.Y./Mepham) followed with an RBI single to right centerfield, scoring Pugh.
Muscara went three for three in the opening game.
Breeden singled again in the fourth inning, scoring Paul who had doubled, cutting the Red Fox lead to 6-4.
Marist scored once in the fourth inning on two hits and a Bronc error for the final score.
Senior Kelsey Krisch (Parker, Colo./Council Rock HS North) went the distance, scattering 12 hits with one strikeout for Rider.
The Broncs face Akron and Cornell on Sunday to complete the tournament.
"Akron and Cornell are both big hitting teams," Carroll said. "Sunday will be a test."
Rider's home opener is Tuesday at 2pm against Drexel at Herb and Joan Young Field.
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