College Softball
NC A&T 'Blue-Gold' Tournament
Rider University 6, Norfolk State University 4

GREENSBORO, N.C.—Senior Gina McCool (Marlton/Cherokee) hit a two-out, two-run double in the bottom of the fifth inning, capping a six-run rally as the Rider University softball team won 6-4 on Saturday afternoon at the North Carolina A&T 'Blue-Gold' tournament.

“This was a good win,” said head coach Tricia Carroll who saw her squad improve to 3-3 on the season.  “Gina has been hot, she shows confidence in the box and is making things happen.  I thought we were a little sluggish at the start but we have a great ability to change gears when we need to.”

Senior Allysen Breeden (Hagerstown, Md./North Hagerstown) opened the bottom of the fifth inning with a walk and pinch runner, freshman Morgan DiVello (Atco/Hammonton) advanced to second on a ground out.  Freshman Monica Clark (Bryn Mawr, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) hit an RBI double and senior Amanda Irving (Westminster, Md./Westminster) just missed a home run and settled for a run-scoring triple to cut the deficit to 4-2.

“Monica had the first RBI of the game and it is nice to get that production from a freshman,” Carroll said.  “This team has power and can be dangerous when the bats get going.”

Sophomore Delany DeMello (Roseville, Calif./Roseville) followed with an RBI single and after a pop out, sophomore Amanda Crimarco (Levittown, N.Y./Kellenberg) hit an RBI single to centerfield, tying the score 4-4.  McCool followed with her extra base hit to give the Broncs a two-run cushion.

Crimarco and McCool each had two of Rider's eight hits.

Sophomore Kaitlyn Kallert (Woodland Park/Passaic Valley) braved the rainy conditions in Greensboro to notch her second win of the season.  Kallert went the distance, scattering eight hits and allowing only three earned runs while finishing one off a career-high with six strikeouts and she allowed no walks.

“Kaitlyn pitched fairly well,” Carroll said.

NSU used an RBI double in the first inning and an RBI ground out in the second inning to take a 2-0 lead and two solo home runs in the third inning gave the Spartans a 4-0 lead.

Rider went 2-4 last season in this tournament, defeating Coppin State and NC A&T.

With the rain forcing changes to the tournament schedule, Rider will now play Drexel University at 9am on Sunday, followed by a rematch with Norfolk State at 11:30am.

Rider's home opener is scheduled for March 25 when the Broncs host Fairleigh Dickinson University for a non-conference doubleheader at Herb and Joan Young Field, beginning at 3pm.