College Softball
North Carolina A&T 11, Rider University 6

LAWRENCEVILLE—The Rider University softball team out-scored North Carolina A&T by five runs in the final three innings but could not overcome an early deficit in an 11-6 non-conference loss to the Aggies on Tuesday afternoon at Herb and Joan Young Field.

For Rider (0-7), junior Morgan Benedetti (Ewing) had three of the eight Bronc hits in the game.

Trailing 5-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning, senior Dana Sensi (Allentown) singled up the middle and eventually scored on a passed ball, getting the Broncs within four runs.

“We took too long to come out and play our game,” said head coach Jaci Timko.  “We cleaned up the defense which was good to see but we took too long to get the bats going and score some runs.  It's a positive that we didn't quit, we kept battling but we need to be the aggressor early in the game instead of trying to come from behind.  I'm happy that we kept battling.”

Rider staved off the eight-run mercy rule by scoring three times in the bottom of the fifth inning, taking advantage of a pinch hit single by sophomore Toni Nino (Adelanto, Calif./Silverado) combined with an Aggie error, two walks and three wild pitches.

Freshman Alexa Feliciano (Thousand Oaks, Calif./Oak Park) hit an RBI double down the left field line, scoring Benedetti in the bottom of the sixth inning, cutting the Bronc deficit to 11-5 and sophomore Josettee Spencer (Hillsborough) scored on a wild pitch after leading off the bottom of the seventh inning with a single for Rider's final run of the game.

Spencer had two hits in the game for the Broncs.

For North Carolina A&T, Raven Gray went four for four with two singles, a double and a grand slam, knocking in five on the day.  The Aggies swept Rider in the two-game series, having won 9-5 in the Bronc home opener on Monday.

Junior Megan Ailand (Burlingame, Calif./Burlingame) went all seven innings for Rider, allowing 13 hits and 11 earned runs while striking out one.

“We need to score runs early in the game and help the pitchers out,” Timko said.  “We aren't doing that and that puts a lot of pressure on the pitchers.”

Rider travels to Kissimmee, Florida March 13-17, opening with Drexel and Florida A&M on Sunday.

-RU-