College Softball – Rebel Spring Games
University at Albany 1, Rider University 0
Indiana State University 6, Rider University 1

KISSIMMEE, Fla.—The Rider University softball team lost twice on the final day at the Rebel Spring Games in Florida.

Rider (1-14) lost to Albany 1-0 and to Indiana State 6-1 on Thursday afternoon.

“We just struggled to execute in key situations,” said first-year head coach Jaci Timko.  “Unfortunately it was the same story pretty much the whole week.”

Rider was held to only two hits in the opener against Albany but used the pitching combination of juniors Megan Ailand (Burlingame, Calif./Burlingame) and Delany DeMello (Roseville, Calif./Roseville) to stay in the game.

Bronc pitching allowed seven hits and only one unearned run after a first inning error with two outs was followed by an RBI double down the right field line for the Great Danes.

Sophomore Monica Clark (Bryn Mawr, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) and senior Dana Sensi (Allentown) had the only hits for the Broncs in the opener.

Rider took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning against Indiana State when Clark singled to shortstop and eventually scored on an RBI ground out by junior Morgan Benedetti (Ewing).

A leadoff double, two errors and a fielder's choice allowed the Sycamores to take a 2-1 lead in the top of the sixth inning and ISU used two run-scoring singles and a bases loaded walk to plate four runs in the seventh inning for the final score.

Sophomore Kaitlyn Kallert (Woodland Park/Passaic Valley) threw three and one-third innings of relief and picked up the loss for the Broncs, allowing five hits and four earned runs.

Senior Kim Valdes (Jupiter, Fla./King's Academy) and sophomore Toni Nino (Adelanto, Calif./Silverado) each had two of Rider's six hits in game two with Sensi and Clark also picking up singles.

Sensi led Rider with seven hits for the week including two doubles and a home run with Valdes compiling a team-best .333 batting average.

Rider played four games decided by one run on the eight-game road swing, including three that were decided by 1-0 scores.  Bronc pitching had a respectable 2.94 earned run average at the Rebel Games but the Rider offense struggled with a .176 team batting average.

“This week was all about preparation for the upcoming conference season in a few weeks,” Timko said.  “We were able to play some great teams and were put into some pressure situations.  That will only make us better.  We saw some good things and a lot of things that we need to work on.”

Rider returns home for a non-conference doubleheader against Army West Point.  Those games will now be played 1pm on Saturday at Herb and Joan Young Field due to the inclement weather expected to impact the East Coast later in the weekend.

Updates on the schedule will be posted at GoBroncs.com and also on Twitter by following @RiderAthletics and @SoftballRider.

-RU-