College Softball
Canisius College 17, Rider University 0 / 5 innings
Canisius College 5, Rider University 0
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference

LAWRENCEVILLE—The Rider University softball team wrapped up the 2015 season with a doubleheader loss against Canisius College on Sunday afternoon at Herb and Joan Young Field.

“We've done a pretty good job putting runs up, even in losses but we couldn't score today,” said head coach Tricia Carroll.  “The first game, that just got away from us.  Canisius is a good hitting team.”

In game two, sophomore pitcher Megan McDonough (Olney, Md./Sherwood) threw six innings and had only given up one run heading into the final frame before Canisius (26-17, 15-5 MAAC) scored four times on five hits in the seventh inning for the final score.

“Megan did a great job holding us in the game and Canisius made some adjustments in the last inning and caught on,” Carroll said.  “All of the pitchers did a good job developing during the season.”

McDonough recorded three strikeouts, scattering 12 hits.

Rider had four hits in game two, led by a double from senior Amanda Irving (Westminster, Md./Westminster) who had two hits on the day.

In the opener, the Golden Griffins held Rider (12-35, 6-14 MAAC) to only three hits for the opening game shutout.

Leading 5-0, Canisius, the co-regular season champion in the MAAC, scored seven times in the fourth inning and added five more runs in the top of the fifth inning for the final score.

The Golden Griffins share the MAAC regular season title with Fairfield University and Canisius will be the top seed and host the six-team conference tournament May 6-10 by virtue of a regular season sweep of the Stags who also finished 15-5 in the MAAC.

Canisius has won 30 of the 44 games in the series against the Broncs.

Rider honored its four graduating seniors between games of the doubleheader, Madison Rittley (Pennington/Hopewell Valley Central), Gina McCool (Marlton/Cherokee), Irving and Allysen Breeden (Hagerstown, Md./North Hagerstown).

“This group was fun to coach,” Carroll said.  “When you put 25 human beings together, you will have your moments but for the most part, this team stuck together, played together and competed well all year.  It's frustrating to be close in so many games.”

McCool had two of Rider's seven hits on the day as the Broncs were held to .167 (7/42) at the plate.

A 193 game veteran, McCool finished her career with 147 hits, tied for 23rd best all-time at Rider.

Irving finished 30th on Rider's all-time hit list with 136, playing 191 games, all starts and Breeden played in 192 games and had 119 hits, 39th best all-time at Rider.

Rider returns 17 letterwinners for the 2016 season.

-RU-