College Softball
Drexel University 14, Rider University 2 / 5 innings

LAWRENCEVILLE—Junior Kim Valdes (Jupiter, Fla./King's Academy) had two of the Rider University softball team's five hits as the Broncs lost a non-conference game to Drexel University on Wednesday afternoon at Herb and Joan Young Field.

“We played sloppy pretty much all around,” said assistant coach Shannon Padula.  “We let them get up on us early and that kind of set the tone.”

Trailing 6-0 in the bottom of the third inning, Valdes hit her second home run of the season, a two-run shot over the right field fence, cutting the Broncs deficit to four.

“Kim is seeing the ball well,” Padula said.

Drexel (19-21) which scored four in the first inning and two runs in the second inning, responded with back to back four-run frames in the fourth and fifth inning for the final score.

Sophomore Megan Ailand (Burlingame, Calif./Burlingame) went three and one-third innings, allowing 10 hits and eight earned runs.

Rider has won 20 of 46 games all-time against the Dragons.

Rider and Drexel met on March 15, 2015 when the Dragons won 2-1 at the NC A&T 'Blue-Gold' Tournament in Greensboro, North Carolina.  Drexel swept Rider by back to back 8-0 scores in Philadelphia during the 2013 season.

In 2012, the teams met four times with Drexel winning twice in Greensboro and Rider took the opener of a doubleheader in Lawrenceville 2-0 on March 6.

Rider hosts Niagara University on Saturday for a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference doubleheader, beginning at 1pm.

“Saturday will set the tone for Sunday,” Padula added.  “I'm excited for the weekend.  We need to go out there and play hard right from the start.”

-RU-