College Softball
at the George Mason Patriot Classic - Day Two
Cornell University 9, Rider University 1
Rutgers University 10, Rider University 0
FAIRFAX, Va.--The Rider University softball team lost twice Saturday on day two of the Patriot Classic, hosted by George Mason University.
Rider (1-6) lost to Cornell 9-1 and Rutgers 10-0.
"The team is extremely young and it is going to take some time and patience until we get things going," said head coach Tricia Carroll. "As long as we stay positive and continue to work hard every day, we'll be ready once conference play begins."
For the Broncs in game one against the Big Red, freshman Dana Sensi (Allentown) continued her strong play, collecting two of Rider's five hits. Sensi hit .545 in her first collegiate weekend at East Carolina and entered the day batting a team-high .467.
Cornell took a 2-0 lead in the second inning on three hits, including an infield RBI single and a single to center field.
The Big Red doubled their lead in the third inning on a two-run home run after an infield single to the pitcher to lead off the inning.
Cornell extended its lead to 7-0 in the fourth inning, scoring three runs, two unearned after a pair of Rider errors.
Rider got one run back in the bottom of the fourth inning on a strikeout and wild pitch, allowing freshman Emily Cottrell (Beachwood/Toms River HS South) to score. Cottrell led off the inning with a walk, advanced to second on a passed ball and advanced to third on a ground out.
Cornell put the game away in the top of the seventh with four more hits, including a two-run single for the final score.
The Big Red were big at the plate, compiling 14 hits in the game.
"Cornell has big bats that don't miss mistakes," Carroll said.
Freshman Montana Berg (Danville, Calif./Monte Vista) took the loss for the Broncs, working four innings, recording two strikeouts.
In the nightcap, in-state rival Rutgers held Rider without a hit and shutout the Broncs 10-0.
Rutgers used a Bronc error and four hits to take a 5-0 first inning lead and the Scarlet Knights scored three in the second inning and two in the fourth for the final score.
Red-shirt freshman Krista Morrone (Pipersville, Pa./Palisades worked four innings, giving up 11 hits and 10 runs, six earned.
"Rutgers is a good team but we gave them more than they earned," said Carroll.
The Broncs play Cornell and George Mason on Sunday in the final day of competition of the three-day tournament.
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