College Softball
Siena College 4, Rider University 2
Siena College 3, Rider University 2
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference

LAWRENCEVILLE—If softball games were six innings, the Rider University squad would find itself undefeated in conference play and sitting in first place.  Unfortunately, they play all seven and the Siena College Saints took full advantage of final inning heroics in both games to sweep the Broncs on Saturday.

“It was two awesome ball games between two competitive teams,” said head coach Tricia Carroll.  “We are just failing to come up with that timely hit.”

Trailing 2-1 in the top of the seventh inning of game two, Siena used a two-run home run to defeat the Broncs, 3-2 and sweep the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference doubleheader on Saturday at Herb and Joan Young Field.

The Saints won the opener 4-2, snapping a 2-2 tie in the seventh inning.

Rider (2-21, 0-2 MAAC) took a 1-0 lead in the third inning of game two on a Siena error, two wild pitches and another Saint error, which scored junior Amanda Irving (Westminster, Md./Westminster).

Siena took advantage of two Rider errors in the top of the fourth to tie the game 1-1.

Freshman Amanda Crimarco (Levittown, N.Y./Kellenberg) led off the bottom of the sixth inning with a double, sophomore Kim Valdes (Jupiter, Fla./King's Academy) followed with a single and with runners on first and third, freshman Megan McDonough (Olney, Md./Sherwood) hit a run scoring single to left field, as Rider retook the lead 2-1.

Valdes had two of Rider's five hits in the night cap.

Freshman Kaitlyn Kallert (Woodland Park/Passaic Valley) went the distance for Rider, recording five strikeouts and scattering six hits.

In the opener, Siena used a double with two outs after a Rider error to plate two unearned runs and defeat Rider 4-2.

Rider opened the scoring on a solo home run from Irving to take a 1-0 lead in the first inning.  For Irving, it was her second home run of the season.

Siena tied the game 1-1 in the top of the fifth inning with an unearned run and the Saints used a one out RBI double to break the tie in the top of the sixth inning.

Rider forged a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the sixth inning when sophomore Emily Cottrell (Beachwood/Toms River HS South) reached on a single to right field and advanced to third base on an error.  Cottrell then scored on a wild pitch.

Freshman Delany DeMello (Roseville, Calif./Roseville) started the opener and went six innings, recording one strikeout and allowed only one earned run, while scattering four hits, leaving the game with the score tied.

Freshman Megan Ailand (Burlingame, Calif./Burlingame) allowed two hits in the seventh inning and despite both runs being unearned, absorbed the loss.

“The pitchers are doing their job,” Carroll said.  “We just have to capitalize on the opportunities when we get them.  It isn't good enough to set the table, we have to then knock in the runs.”

For Rider in the opener, sophomore Dana Sensi (Allentown) and McDonough each had two of Rider's six hits.

Rider has won 18 of the 34 games in the all-time series against the Saints.

The teams last met on April 20, 2013 when Siena swept Rider in Loudonville 16-0 and 7-6.  In 2012, Rider swept Siena 4-3 in nine innings and 2-1, both games in Lawrenceville.  That was the fourth season in a row that one of the games with Siena has gone into extra innings.

In 2011, in Loudonville, Siena swept the Broncs, winning 2-1 in nine innings in the opener on a walk off walk and the Saints won the nightcap 9-3.  In 2010, Rider and Siena split two games in Lawrenceville with the Broncs winning 7-1 before losing 6-4 in extra innings.  In 2009 in Loudonville, Rider again won the opener (7-1) before losing 6-4 in extra innings in the nightcap.  The Broncs swept the Saints in 2008, winning 5-4 and 6-2 in Lawrenceville.

Rider has lost 17 straight.

“It is frustrating because I think this team is really talented,” Carroll said.  “The record doesn't show it (2-6 in one-run games) but we are extremely competitive and I'm proud of how we are battling.  They have worked so hard, on the field, off the field, in the classroom, in the weight room and they deserve to be successful.  They are committed to this program.  It's hard to not press and to not try too much.”

Rider will complete the MAAC weekend and an eight-game home stand by hosting conference newcomer Quinnipiac University at 1:00pm on Sunday.

“We are doing good things, we just aren't getting that one big hit or play and we just have to keep after it,” Carroll added.

The Bobcats defeated Saint Peter's 6-3 and 16-4 on Saturday and Quinnipiac enters the doubleheader 2-0 in the conference.

“We need to win these games on Sunday,” Carroll said.  “It's hard to win on the road in the MAAC so we need to take advantage of our home games and if we compete like we did today and stay positive, we'll be fine.”

-RU-