College Softball
North Carolina A&T 9, Rider University 5

LAWRENCEVILLE—Despite a home run and double from freshman Kiera Swank (Bear, Del./Caravel Academy), the Rider University softball team lost the 2016 home opener at Herb and Joan Young Field on Monday afternoon.

“Kiera had a great day,” said head coach Jaci Timko.  “She is seeing the ball and is going up there and taking her hacks; that's all we can ask for.”

North Carolina A&T (7-8) broke a scoreless tie with three runs in the top of the third inning on a double, wild pitch, single, passed ball, walk, two more singles and a fielding error, all with two outs.

Rider (0-6) opened the bottom of the third inning when sophomore Toni Nino (Adelanto, Calif./Silverado) led off with a double and senior Dana Sensi (Allentown) followed with a two-run home run to left field.  Swank then homered to right center field to tie the score 3-3.

“We came back from South Carolina (5 games) and we were focused on taking advantage of the opportunities we had today offensively and we did that for the most part,” said Timko.  “We didn't strand as many runners so that was a positive thing to see.”

For Sensi it was the 21st home run of her career and first of the season.

The Aggies took a 6-3 lead in the top of the fourth inning with four hits, a wild pitch, passed ball and double steal and NC A&T pushed its lead to five runs in the top of the fifth inning converting three hits and a Rider error into two unearned runs.

After Swank doubled down the left field line, freshman Ellie Oruska (Chadds Ford, Pa./Garnet Valley) hit her first collegiate home run, clearing the fence in left center field to get Rider to within 8-5 in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Swank scored twice in the game.

The Aggies took advantage of a single, wild pitch and error to plate a run in the top of the sixth inning for the final score.

Also for the Broncs, freshman Alexa Feliciano (Thousand Oaks, Calif./Oak Park) singled, one of six hits for Rider.

Sophomore Kaitlyn Kallert (Woodland Park/Passaic Valley) went the first four innings with two strikeouts and allowed 11 hits and six earned runs to pick up the loss.

Junior Megan Ailand (Burlingame, Calif./Burlingame) pitched the final two innings, scattering five hits and allowing three runs, one earned.

“We were looking for Kaitlyn and Megan to throw ground balls and they did that,” Timko added.  “The defense needs to execute more.  Every play does matter and we need to find a way to close out innings, especially when we get the first two outs.”

The Aggies were 8-13 with two outs at the plate, knocking in four runs as part of a 16-hit attack with Rider going 1-8 at the plate with two outs.

Rider hosts NC A&T in the final game of the two-game series on Tuesday at 2pm.

-RU-