College Softball
University of Hartford 7, Rider University 3
Binghamton University 3, Rider University 2
Rider University 9, University of Hartford 3
Binghamton University 20, Rider University 2 / 5 innings
Rider University 7, University of Hartford 6 / 9 innings

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C.—After 18 games were cancelled or eliminated off the schedule by snow, cold, rain, sleet, ice or travel plans that were affected by the above, the Rider University softball team finally opened the 2015 season with an instantly formed tournament in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina as the Broncs faced Binghamton University and the University of Hartford Saturday and Sunday.

On Saturday, Rider (2-3) split two games with the Hawks, losing 7-3 and winning 9-3 with the Broncs falling 3-2 to Binghamton.

On Sunday, the Broncs battled back from a 20-2 defeat against Binghamton to defeat Hartford 7-6 in nine innings.

“The team showed a lot of fight,” said head coach Tricia Carroll.  “It was great to finally play outside.  We have some work to do but we are looking forward to the upcoming schedule.”

In game one Saturday against Hartford, Rider lost the season opener 7-3.

Trailing 6-0 in the bottom of the fifth, Rider got on the board via an RBI walk and a Hawk error, cutting the deficit to 6-2.  

Trailing 7-2, senior Allysen Breeden (Hagerstown, Md./North Hagerstown) hit a solo home run in the top of the seventh inning for the final score.  

Breeden, who had two hits for the weekend, now has 94 hits in her Rider career.

Sophomore Kaitlyn Kallert (Woodland Park/Passaic Valley) went the distance for Rider, recording one strikeout and allowing nine hits.

“The opener, we made some mistakes that Hartford capitalized on,” Carroll said.  “Valdes had a good day with some key hits and McCool as well, hit the ball in some key spots.”

In the second game on Saturday, Rider fell to the Bearcats of Binghamton University by a score of 3-2.

Trailing 1-0 in the top of the fourth inning, back to back doubles by junior Dana Sensi (Allentown) and junior Emily Cottrell (Beachwood/Toms River HS South) tied the score 1-1.  Cottrell eventually scored on an error by Binghamton, giving the Broncs a 2-1 lead.

The Bearcats tied the game 2-2 in the bottom of the fourth inning on a two-out solo home run and used a Bronc error and RBI double to lead off the bottom of the sixth inning for the final score.

Sophomore Delany DeMello (Roseville, Calif./Roseville) allowed only two earned runs and recorded three strikeouts but was saddled with the loss.

“The second game was hard fought,” Carroll said.  “Delany pitched well and I thought we left a pile of runs on the field as we left seven runners on base.”

Rider finally got on the winning side of the ledger Saturday in game three of the day, defeating Hartford 9-3.

Trailing 1-0 through four innings, Rider erupted for four runs in the top of the fifth inning, using RBI singles by Sensi and junior Kim Valdes (Jupiter, Fla./King's Academy) and a passed ball and RBI double from sophomore Amanda Crimarco (Levittown, N.Y./Kellenberg) as Rider took a three-run lead.

A two-run single in the top of the sixth inning by Sensi pushed the Hawk deficit to five runs and Rider completed the scoring with an RBI single from senior Gina McCool (Marlton/Cherokee) and a two-run double by freshman Antonia Nino (Adelanto, Calif./Silverado) for the final score.

Sensi had five hits for the weekend and now has 93 in her Rider career.

McCool had three of Rider's 11 hits with Sensi adding two hits and three RBI, making a winner out of sophomore Megan McDonough (Olney, Md./Sherwood) who allowed four hits and only one earned run while recording two strikeouts.

“Overall it was a good day on Saturday,” Carroll said.  “The pitchers threw well and I liked their composure.  The bats took a bit to come around which is to be expected this early in the season.  It felt good to get that first win of the year and we were able to capitalize on the mistakes that Hartford made.  We stole some bases and the energy was good.  The team plays hard, they play together and they believe in each other.”

On Sunday, in the opener against Binghamton, Rider was held to two hits and allowed 11 runs, all with two outs in a 20-2 loss to the Bearcats.  

Cottrell hit her ninth career home run to lead off the bottom of the second inning and Rider used an RBI fielder's choice in the fifth inning for the final score.

“Emily stayed hot in the opener on Sunday,” Carroll said.  “Gina (McCool) also had a nice game, otherwise there really wasn't that much good that came out of the game.  Nine unearned runs and all with two outs and the game got away from us.”

The final game on Sunday was Rider's best effort of the young season as the Broncs won in come from behind fashion 7-6 in nine innings over Hartford.  The Broncs tied the score in the bottom of the seventh, bottom of the eighth and won it while trailing by one run in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Trailing 3-0, Rider got on the board via an RBI single by Valdes in the bottom of the third inning.  Valdes had four of Rider's season-high 14 hits in the game and batted .583 for the weekend.

Rider cut the deficit to 4-3 in the bottom of the fifth inning using an RBI single from Cottrell and a Hawk error to plate two runs.  

Cottrell tied the game 4-4 in the bottom of the seventh inning with a one-out RBI single as she had two hits and two RBI in the game.

Trailing 5-4 in the bottom of the eighth inning, senior Amanda Irving (Westminster, Md./Westminster) hit her sixth career home run, a solo shot with one out to force the game into the ninth inning.

Hartford used an RBI triple in the top of the ninth inning to take a 6-5 lead before McCool hit a two out, two-run single in the bottom of the ninth to give Rider the victory.  McCool batted .467 in the five games this past weekend.

“Gina hit the first pitch up the middle for the game-winner,” Carroll remembered.  “Twice we needed one run to tie the game and in the eighth inning, pinch runner, sophomore Josettee Spencer (Hillsborough) jumped over the catcher, spinning in the air on an acrobatic play to tag home plate and in the ninth Valdes continued her hot play by leading off with a double.”

Kallert went the final seven innings, allowing only two earned runs to pick up her first win of the season.

Rider travels to the North Carolina A&T 'Blue-Gold' tournament March 14-15 against Norfolk State, Maryland Eastern Shore and Drexel.

The home opener is a doubleheader scheduled for March 25 at 3pm against Fairleigh Dickinson at Herb and Joan Young Field.