College Softball – Aggie Invitational
Maryland Eastern Shore 15, Rider University 6
Saint Francis (Pa.) 10, Rider University 1 / 5 innings

GREENSBORO, N.C.—The Rider University softball team opened the 2014 regular season at the Aggie Invitational, hosted by North Carolina A&T on Friday afternoon.

Rider (0-2) lost the opener to Maryland Eastern Shore 15-6 and fell in the nightcap 10-1 to Saint Francis (Pa.).

“It really felt good to get outside and play the game on the intended surface, dirt and grass” said head coach Tricia Carroll who has spent more time indoors on turf instead of dashing through the snow.  “The scores are not the way we wanted to start the 2014 season but despite the end result there was good stuff going on today.  It is going to take some time to settle the defense, pitching, and batting order.”

Trailing 2-0 in the first inning of game one, sophomore Dana Seni (Allentown) cut the deficit in half with an RBI single, scoring senior Kehli Washington (Lulea, Sweden/New Rochelle) who led off with a walk and stole second and the Broncs tied the game 2-2 on a solo home run by sophomore Emily Cottrell (Beachwood/Toms River HS South) in the bottom of the second inning.

Rider used an RBI walk, run-scoring groundout and an RBI single by Washington to take a 5-2 lead after three innings of play.

UMES scored on a passed ball and used a two-run home run to tie the game 5-5 in the fifth and converted a Bronc error into a three-run home run to take the lead 8-5 in the sixth inning.

UMES broke the game open with seven runs on seven hits in the top of the seventh before freshman Amanda Crimarco (Levittown, N.Y./Kellenberg) hit a solo home run in the bottom half of the inning for the final score.

“Emily Cottrell hit the first home run of the year,” said Carroll.  “And freshman Amanda Crimarco had number two, on her birthday no less.  The line-up is going to be dangerous.”  Rider had only 14 home runs in 49 games last season.

The second game was all Saint Francis with the Red Flash jumping out to an 8-0 lead with a single run in the first, four runs in the second and three runs in the third inning.

Rider got on the board in the top of the fourth inning when junior Amanda Irving (Westminster, Md./Westminster) and Seni hit back to back doubles with one out, cutting the deficit to 8-1.

Sensi had three of Rider's 13 hits on the day.

Saint Francis scored twice in the bottom of the fourth and held the Broncs scoreless to end the game early on the mercy rule.

Rider plays Morgan State and Maryland Eastern Shore on Saturday morning before facing the host Aggies of NC A&T Sunday.

“I like that we are playing three days in a row,” Carroll said.  “We need to play.”

Rider's home opener is March 30 when the Broncs face Saint Peter's University in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference doubleheader at Herb and Joan Young Field, beginning at 1 p.m.

-RU-