College Softball
Rider University 5, Marist College 0
Marist College 16, Rider University 3 / 5 innings
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference

LAWRENCEVILLE— Freshman Delany DeMello (Roseville, Calif./Roseville) threw a complete game five-hit shutout, leading the Rider University softball team to a 5-0 win over Marist College as the Broncs split a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference doubleheader on Sunday afternoon at Herb and Joan Young Field in Lawrenceville.

Over 200 fans packed the stands as Rider celebrated Alumni and Fan Appreciation Day with free food and beverages.

“It was a nice day and we had a lot of alumni come out,” said head coach Tricia Carroll.  “We fed everyone and it makes for a great atmosphere.  Splitting the doubleheader was great.  The conference is crazy and anyone can win on any given day.  It was a solid effort to bounce back, especially in the opening game after being held to three hits in two games on Saturday.”

DeMello had a career-high five strikeouts in the game and was also two for three at the plate with a double, an RBI and a run scored.

“I just came out with an attitude that it was a new day,” said DeMello who gave up seven earned runs in five innings in a loss at Fairfield on Saturday.  “We didn't have a good outing yesterday so to bounce back from that, it means a lot.  I hit my spots and spun the ball and the defense and hitting was great as well.”

“The first game was great,” said Carroll.  “Delany did an amazing job shutting them down and the defense did a solid job behind her.  We also got some timely hits with runners on base to get her some runs to work with.  We got those hits that we haven't been getting.  Delany is a competitor and she is tough and wants the ball in pressure situations.”

Rider entered Sunday batting .224 overall and .214 in MAAC play.

Rider (4-27, 2-6 MAAC) sophomore Emily Cottrell (Beachwood/Toms River HS South) broke a scoreless tie in the fourth inning, hitting a one out home run to left centerfield, her third of the season to put the Broncs in the lead.  Junior Gina McCool (Marlton/Cherokee) kept the rally alive, hitting a two-out RBI single, scoring sophomore Dana Sensi (Allentown) who reached on as walk.  Sophomore Montana Berg (Danville, Calif./Monte Vista) followed with an RBI single, which scored DeMello who reached on an infield single to the shortstop as Rider increased its lead to 3-0.

“To be able to pitch and have the defense behind me and have the offense get some runs, it was great to see the team effort,” DeMello added.

Sensi walked to open the sixth inning and DeMello followed with an RBI double to left field, scoring pinch runner Josettee Spencer (Hillsborough), giving the Broncs a four-run lead.  McCool followed with an RBI fielder's choice, scoring freshman pinch runner Morgan Benedetti (Ewing) as Rider pushed its lead to 5-0.

“At the plate, I was just trying to move the runners,” DeMello remembered.  “I knew we needed to get more runners in scoring position so that's what I was trying to do.  I love all the aspects of the game and just being involved mentally to fight the opponent.  Everything has to be there, both mentally and physically to have a good game.”

Marist threatened in the seventh inning, loading the bases with one out before DeMello was able to induce a pop up to shortstop and a lineout to right field to end the game, handing the Red Foxes their first conference loss.

“The split was important,” DeMello said.  “We had nothing to lose.  To surprise everyone in the MAAC and at least get a split is awesome.”

The win snapped a five-game Rider losing streak.

“The players need to believe that they can be successful,” Carroll said.  “Emily (Cottrell) hitting another home run, it's not luck.  She makes good contact and Dana (Sensi) also hit the ball hard.”

The second game was all Marist as the Red Foxes scored in every inning and compiled 16 hits against four Bronc pitchers with the Rider defense making three errors, leading to eight unearned runs.

Marist took advantage of two Rider errors to score five unearned runs in the first inning.

Sensi hit an RBI double with two outs in the bottom of the first inning, scoring junior Amanda Irving (Westminster, Md./Westminster) as Rider cut the Marist lead to 5-1.

Marist put two runs run on the board in the top of the second inning on a bunt single, sacrifice bunt and two RBI singles to centerfield, making the score 7-1.

The Red Foxes used a single, walk, passed ball, RBI single, an RBI groundout, an error and another RBI single to make the score 11-1 Marist in the top of the third inning, chasing Bronc starter Kaitlyn Kallert (Woodland Park/Passaic Valley).

Kallert went two plus innings and allowed eight hits, eight runs, three earned with no walks and a strikeout.

Marist (13-18, 4-1 MAAC) used a two-out RBI single to increase its lead to 12-1 in the fourth inning.

DeMello scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the fourth inning as the Broncs cut the Red Fox lead to 12-2.

Marist hit a solo home run in the top of the fifth inning and the Red Foxes used two RBI singles and an RBI groundout, increasing their lead to 16-2.

Sensi hit her second double of the game, scored Irving who reached on an error for the final score in the bottom of the bottom of the fifth inning.

Before today, the teams last met on April 21, 2013 when the Red Foxes swept Rider 8-5 (8 innings) and 4-3, both MAAC games in Poughkeepsie, New York.  The Broncs led the extra-inning game 5-0 before losing on a three-run home run after Marist tied the game on a two out, two strike home run in the bottom of the seventh.  In the second game, Rider rallied from a 3-0 deficit before falling by one run.

In 2012, Rider and Marist played a similar series with the Broncs losing 2-0 in 11 innings in the opener before rallying for a 10-7 win in the nightcap.

In 2011, the Red Foxes won 3-1 and 9-0.  Rider swept the Red Foxes by 8-4 and 8-0 scores in 2010 and split the two games in Poughkeepsie in 2009. 

The Broncs have won 17 of the 48 games in the series.

Rider hosts Delaware on Wednesday, April 16 in a non-conference doubleheader at 3:00 p.m.

“Delaware is another tough opponent,” Carroll said.  “They are always good.  We've been able to play them tough and that will prepare us for the next four conference games coming up against Manhattan (April 19) and Saint Peter's (April 21).

-RU-