College Softball
Towson University 2, Rider University 1
Winthrop University 9, Rider University 3

ROCK HILL, S.C.—The Rider University softball team was swept on the second day of the Winthrop Tournament in South Carolina.

In the opener, despite out-hitting the Towson Tigers 5-4, the Broncs lost 2-1 after leaving four runners on base.

“We were aggressive hitting against Towson,” said head coach Jaci Timko.  “We hit the ball hard but we could not get the ball to drop.  The defense was solid behind Kate (Kallert) and we made all the hard plays.”

In only her second game since an arm injury ended her season on March 22, 2015, red-shirt sophomore Kaitlyn Kallert (Woodland Park/Passaic Valley) threw a complete game four-hitter, allowing two walks.

Towson broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fourth inning on a lead-off single and RBI triple.  A suicide squeeze gave the Tigers a two-run margin.

Rider (0-4) got one run back in the top of the sixth inning when with one out, Josettee Spencer (Hillsborough) singled to right field and sophomore Monica Clark (Bryn Mawr, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) followed with a double to right center.  Sophomore Toni Nino (Adelanto, Calif./Silverado) followed with an RBI groundout to shortstop cutting the deficit to 2-1.

Clark had five hits on the day and is batting a team-leading .625 to open the season.

The second game was all Winthrop as the Eagles opened up an 8-0 lead after two innings and cruised to a 9-3 win.

Trailing by eight, Rider staved off the mercy rule with a three-run, fifth inning on three hits.

Spencer walked to lead off the inning and Clark singled through the left side.  Nino followed with a bunt single, scoring Spencer and a sacrifice fly by junior Delany DeMello (Roseville, Calif./Roseville) made the score 8-2.  Winthrop had a wild pitch to score Nino, making it a five-run deficit.

A double, walk and RBI single in the bottom of the sixth gave the Eagles a 9-3 lead.

Rider had ample opportunities in the game but left 11 runners on base.

“Against Winthrop, it took a while to wake the bats up but we were able to put some hits together in the fifth inning to get us back into the game,” Timko said.  “We were looking to score early but we left a ton of runners on base and were unable to cash in.”

DeMello threw all six innings for Rider, recording four strikeouts.

Also for the Broncs in game two, senior Dana Sensi (Robbinsville) had two singles and she is now tied for 22nd all-time at Rider with 148 hits in her career.

Rider plays Brown on Sunday in the final game of the tournament.

The home opener for the Bronc squad is scheduled for March 8 against North Carolina A&T.

-RU-