College Softball
Siena College 3, Rider University 0
Siena College 7, Rider University 0
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference

LOUDONVILLE, N.Y.—The Rider University softball team was held to five hits in two games and the Broncs struck out 21 times in a Metro Athletic Conference doubleheader loss at Siena College on Saturday afternoon.

Rider lost the opener 3-0 and the second game 7-0.

“This was a frustrating day,” said head coach Tricia Carroll.  “We couldn't make an adjustment to get hits.  21 strikeouts on the day isn't going to win too many ball games.  Both Siena pitchers did a nice job keeping us off balance.”

Overall Rider batted .109 (5/46) in the doubleheader.

In game one for Rider (10-30, 4-10 MAAC), sophomore Delany DeMello (Roseville, Calif./Roseville) threw a six inning complete game, recording three strikeouts and only allowed six hits.  DeMello threw 82 pitches, 48 for strikes.

DeMello and junior Montana Berg (Danville, Calif./Monte Vista) had Rider's only two hits in the game, back to back singles in the fifth inning.

Siena broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fifth inning.  The Saints led off with a hit batsman and a walk and with two outs, Siena used a two-run double and RBI single to plate three runs.

Sophomore Amanda Gatt had 12 strikeouts and one walk in the game to pick up her fifth win of the season.  Gatt threw 123 pitches, 85 for strikes.

Game two was all Siena as the Saints out-hit Rider 15-3.

Siena used a leadoff double, infield single and RBI ground out to take a 1-0 first inning lead.

A leadoff single and back to back home runs in the bottom of the third inning extended the Saint lead to 4-0.

Back to back two out singles, followed by an RBI double to left centerfield in the bottom of the fourth inning made the score 5-0 Siena and ended the day for Bronc sophomore pitcher Megan McDonough (Olney, Md./Sherwood) who allowed five earned runs while giving up 12 hits.

A sacrifice fly and two out RBI double to right centerfield off Rider sophomore reliever Megan Ailand (Burlingame, Calif./Burlingame) completed the scoring for Siena in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Senior Amanda Irving (Westminster, Md./Westminster), junior Kim Valdes (Jupiter, Fla./King's Academy) and senior Gina McCool (Marlton/Cherokee) had the only hits for Rider (all singles) in game two.

Saint freshman Lauren Butts threw a complete game three-hitter allowing one walk and recording nine strikeouts for her seventh win of the season.  Butts threw 89 pitches, 62 for strikes.

Rider and Siena have now split the 36 game all-time series with each team winning 18 times.

Last season Siena swept Rider in Lawrenceville 4-2 and 3-2.  In 2013, 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 had 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 travels to Quinnipiac University for a MAAC doubleheader on Sunday before returning home for a single game against La Salle University on April 29 at 3pm at Herb and Joan Young Field.

-RU-