College Softball
Rider University 4, Niagara University 1
Rider University 9, Niagara University 5
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
Carroll 400th win

LAWRENCEVILLE—The Rider University softball team swept a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference doubleheader against Niagara University on Saturday afternoon at Herb and Joan Young Field, giving head coach Tricia Carroll career win number 400 and 401.

“It's nice to get the milestone,” said Carroll, in her 21st season at Rider.  “But really I don't count the games.  The day was great.  We played well.  We played pretty solid defense, we hit the ball and we pitched pretty well.”

“It is great at the end of the season to push that number across,” said senior Gina McCool who had five hits in the doubleheader to help Rider reach the milestone win total.  “To get that for her, it is nice to see that result.”

In the opener, sophomore Delany DeMello (Roseville, Calif./Roseville) threw a complete game, three-hitter, recording four strikeouts and allowing no earned runs for her fifth victory of the season.

“Delany pitched very well,” Carroll said.

“It was a matter of throwing strikes and letting the defense do the work,” said DeMello.  “The offense also did a nice job getting runs on the board.”

Rider (12-33, 6-12 MAAC) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning on an RBI double from senior Allysen Breeden (Hagerstown, Md./North Hagerstown) and senior Amanda Irving (Westminster, Md./Westminster) added a run-scoring single with two outs.

Breeden had four hits in the two games.

Irving hit a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fourth inning to give the Broncs a 3-0 lead with junior Emily Cottrell (Beachwood/Toms River HS South) hitting a run-scoring double, scoring junior Dana Sensi (Allentown) who also doubled, giving Rider a four-run lead.

“This group works very hard at what they do and it is nice to see the hard work pay off,” Carroll said.  “Dana is dangerous and has been just crushing the ball.”

Sensi leads Rider in every offensive category and is batting .394 heading into the final games on Sunday.

“The team is seeing the ball well,” said Sensi who had four hits in the doubleheader.  “It was good that we were able to get some offense to help out the pitchers who did a very good job.  It was a good day.”

“Having a lead, there is a lot of pressure that comes off of you as a pitcher,” DeMello said about the early run support.

Niagara (4-38, 4-14 MAAC) took advantage of a Bronc error and scored on a sacrifice fly in the top of the sixth inning.

In the second game, senior Gina McCool (Marlton/Cherokee) went four for four to lead the Broncs to a 9-5 win and the doubleheader sweep.

“We all were seeing the ball well,” McCool said.  “We got timely hits and were able to push some runs across.  We also got solid pitching to seal the deal.”

Trailing 2-0 in the bottom of the first inning, Rider scored four times on a double steal, wild pitch, an RBI single by McCool and an RBI double from junior Montana Berg (Danville, Calif./Monte Vista).

Cottrell hit an RBI single and McCool also hit a run scoring single in the bottom of the second inning, giving the Broncs a 6-2 lead and Breeden hit her sixth home run of the season, pushing the Rider lead to five runs.

Niagara used two hits to get a run back in the top of the fourth before Sensi hit her team-leading 13th home run of the season with Breeden adding an RBI single as Rider led 9-3 through four.  

The Purple Eagles plated two runs in the top of the sixth inning on a bases loaded walk and an RBI fielder's choice, cutting the deficit to 9-5 but could get no closer.

Sophomore Megan McDonough (Olney, Md./Sherwood) went six innings, allowing 11 hits and five earned runs while recording two strikeouts.

“Megan did a nice job keeping us in the game,” Carroll said.

Rider snapped a 10-game losing streak to the Purple Eagles and the Broncs have won 17 of 40 games all-time against Niagara.

Over 200 fans packed the stadium as Rider recognized Cancer Awareness Day during the game, raising almost $300 for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) and 'Team Tom'.  Tom Lawrence, who threw out the first pitch, is the husband of Rider softball alum Courtney (Weed) Lawrence and he is in remission after battling Hodgkin's Lymphoma.  

“It is truly a miracle that Tom is still with us,” Carroll added.  “We lost 'Pep' yesterday and it really puts this game in perspective.”

The team dedicated today's doubleheader to Stephanie 'Pep' Badar from Team IMPACT who was drafted by the Bronc softball team in 2014.  Badar passed away from a brain tumor at age 12 on Friday.

“Today was tough after losing Stephanie yesterday,” Sensi said.  “You come in and play with a little more heart and realize the bigger picture.  Today keeps everything in perspective.”

“Finding out about Stephanie on Friday, it was really hard,” DeMello said.  “We all decided to play for her.  It was a hard day.”

“We all loved Stephanie and it's a huge loss,” said McCool who also lost her mother to cancer last season.  “I think she was there for us today as well as Tom and Courtney Lawrence, they have been a big part of the program.  Life is hard sometimes and it was nice just to come out on a beautiful day and play the game we love.”

Rider hosts Canisius College on Sunday at noon in the final games of the 2015 season.  In between games of the MAAC doubleheader, Rider will honor its seniors, Breeden, McCool, Irving and Madison Rittley (Pennington/Hopewell Valley Central).

“Canisius is a great team,” Sensi said.  “We are going to miss the seniors, they are a big part of the team.  They all did well today and it would be awesome if they did that again on Sunday.”

“Our seniors have worked so hard for us and we want to show that we are there for them,” DeMello added.

“The juniors and seniors have done a tremendous job keeping things together and staying positive,” Carroll said.  “I'm really proud of the way that they have committed to each other.  We have some great leaders and I'm proud of them.”

-RU-