College Softball
Game 1 - Rider University 2, Drexel University 0
Game 2 - Drexel University 10, Rider University 5
LAWRENCEVILLE--The Rider University softball team opened the home portion of the 2012 schedule with a non-conference split against Drexel University on Tuesday afternoon at Herb and Joan Young Field.
For Rider (2-9) in the opener, senior Rachael Matreale (Williamstown) tossed a complete game two-hitter, recording a career-high 11 strikeouts.
"The first game was awesome," said head coach Tricia Carroll. "Rachael pitched great and we got enough run support to get the win."
"I felt really good pitching the last few games and that continued today," Matreale said. "The team has been playing some really solid defense and it takes a lot of pressure off me when I am out there because I don't need to throw strikeout. Of course strikeouts are always my number one goal, because the less the ball in put in play, the better chance we have to get a win."
The Broncs broke a scoreless tie in the fourth inning when freshman Gina McCool (Marlton/Cherokee) led off with a double and scored on a one-out double by Sam Pugh (Elkton, Md./Elkton).
McCool had two of Rider's four hits in the opening game.
Senior Samantha Mayer (Neptune) launched her first home run of the season, a solo shot to left field to lead off the fifth inning and give the Broncs a 2-0 lead.
In the night cap, despite three hits from freshman Amanda Irving (Westminster, Md./Westminster), the Broncs were doubled up by Drexel (3-8) 10-5.
Trailing 10-0 after committing four errors, Rider scored five times in the fifth inning, on four hits, two walks and a hit batter.
"The bummer about the second game was that we gave up some runs we didn't have to," Carroll said. "To come back and score five was good but you can't make errors and get down 10 runs."
Irving had an RBI single to right field and McCool followed with a two-run single to left field.
Freshman Allysen Breeden (Hagerstown, Md./North Hagerstown) also singled to left field in the fifth for the Broncs.
"We finished with some good at-bats in the second game and overall the energy in both games was good," Carroll added. "The younger players especially, they just went out there and made some things happen."
Rider and Drexel met earlier this season in the UNC-Greensboro tournament with the Dragons winning 7-0 and 12-0. The teams have now met 43 times since the series began in 1983 with Rider winning 25.
"There is always pressure in my mind, but yes I think already losing to them twice gave us some more motivation, especially since we lost pretty bad last game," Matreal added about facing the Dragons again. "I really wanted to make sure my change up wasn't too predictable. I didn't make too many adjustments other than trying to keep my walks down. I wasn't throwing my best the first time I pitched against them and I just felt more comfortable out there today."
Rider travels to Kissimmee, Florida for the 10-game Rebel Spring Games March 11-17, beginning with games against Utah Valley and Akron on Sunday.
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