College Softball – Liberty Classic
University of Toledo 7, Rider University 3
Rider University 11, North Carolina Central 1
Sensi 100th hit

LYNCHBURG, Va.—Junior Dana Sensi (Allentown) had three hits, including career hit number 100 and her two-run home run in the fifth inning broke a 1-1 tie, to lead the Rider University softball team to a split on day two of the Liberty Classic in Virginia as the Broncs defeated North Carolina Central to snap a five-game losing streak.

“We can hit and we can play,” said head coach Tricia Carroll after the second game.  “I don't know where that went for a couple of games but hopefully we are back for good.”

The seven-game tournament for Rider runs March 22-25.

In the nightcap, Rider trailed 1-0 in the top of the third inning when senior Amanda Irving (Westminster, Md./Westminster) reached on an error and scored on another error, tying the game 1-1.

Irving singled to lead off the fifth inning and Sensi took a 1-0 pitch over the left field fence for her fourth home run of the season, giving Rider a 3-1 lead.  Sensi doubled to left centerfield in the first inning to record career hit #100, the 48th Bronc to reach that plateau in the 38 seasons of Bronc softball.

Sensi and junior Emily Cottrell (Beachwood/Toms River HS South) hit back to back home runs in the top of the seventh inning as Rider used seven hits to score eight times to put the game away.

Cottrell and senior Gina McCool (Marlton/Cherokee) each had two of Rider's 14 hits.

Sophomore Delany DeMello (Roseville, Calif./Roseville) pitched a complete game, six hitter, recording two strikeouts and allowing one unearned run for her second win of the season.

“Delany pitched very well,” Carroll added.

In the opener, Rider could not overcome five errors, losing to the University of Toledo 7-3.

“The opener was frustrating,” Carroll said.  “We had a dropped fly ball, missed easy ground balls and we had too many walks by the pitchers.  In the first 10 games, we did a good job of limiting walks and playing solid defense and in several of the games, it looked like we forgot how to play.  Playing these teams from tough conference, you have to play clean ball to win.”

Training 4-0, the Broncs scored one run in the third inning on an RBI double from sophomore Megan McDonough (Olney, Md./Sherwood) which scored sophomore Morgan Benedetti (Ewing) who had led off the inning with a double.

McDonough, who went the distance in the circle, allowed four earned runs, while recording five strikeouts and had two of Rider's five hits in the second game, recording three hits in the doubleheader.

Rider cut the deficit to 7-3 on an RBI ground out and an RBI single by junior Kim Valdes (Jupiter, Fla./King's Academy) in the sixth inning but could get no closer as the Broncs were retired in order in the bottom of the seventh.

The Broncs face Kent State and St. Francis (Pa.) on Saturday in Virginia.

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

-RU-