College Softball
Marist College 11, Rider University 0 / 6 innings
Marist College 9, Rider University 8 / 8 innings
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Doubleheader

LAWRENCEVILLE—The Rider University softball team took first place Marist College to extra innings in game two but were swept by the Red Foxes on Sunday afternoon at Herb and Joan Young Field in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference doubleheader.

“I'm proud that we battled and came back, especially after the opener where we only had two hits,” said head coach Jaci Timko.  “We gave Marist a run for their money and showed that they couldn't come in and run all over us.  Pushing the number one team in the conference to extra innings and making them work and earn it, I can't express how proud I am of the team.”

In game two, Marist used a two-out, two-run home run with a 1-1 count in the top of the seventh inning to tie the game 5-5 and send it to extra innings and the Red Foxes used three hits and a Rider error to plate four runs in the top of the eighth.

Junior Josettee Spencer (Hillsborough) hit a double and senior Kim Valdes (Jupiter, Fla./King's Academy) followed with an RBI single as Rider cut the Red Fox lead to 9-6 in the bottom of the eighth inning.  An RBI groundout and a Marist error got Rider to within one but the Broncs stranded the tying run at first base.  Spencer had two hits and scored twice in the night cap with Valdes also recording two hits while scoring twice.

“A team with a little more experience walks away with the win,” Timko said about forcing extra innings.  “That's the direction we want to go.  Hopefully we see that we are headed in the right direction and that anything is possible.  We have to fight and continue to learn how not to lose these games.  We battled and didn't back down and that's good to see.”

Rider used a two-run single by junior Morgan Benedetti (Ewing) to open up a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning.  

“If we show up and play, we can compete with anyone,” Timko added.  “We need to continue to show that we can do it.  The mental aspect is the biggest thing.  Marist is one of the best teams we will see this year.  They are number one for a reason.”

Two hits and a wild pitch got Marist a run in the top of the fifth inning and a one out single to center field cut the Red Fox deficit to 3-2 in the top of the sixth.

Senior Emily Cottrell (Beachwood/Toms River South) hit a two-run home run to center field in the bottom of the sixth inning, pushing the Rider lead to 5-2.  For Cottrell it was her team-leading sixth home run of the season.  Cottrell had three of Rider's eight hits in game two and she scored twice while knocking in two.

“I definitely think we can compete with all the teams in the MAAC,” Cottrell said.  “A few weeks ago we don't make that comeback and that shows how we are developing and that people will have to start looking out for us.  The mentality is to continue to fight, winning every pitch, win every inning and win games.”

Sophomore Kaitlyn Kallert (Woodland Park/Passaic Valley) threw all eight innings for Rider, allowing 15 hits and eight earned runs.

In the opener, Marist (36-8, 11-1 MAAC) used a first inning triple and a sacrifice fly to take a 1-0, first inning lead.

The Red Foxes used three hits in a row to opened up a 3-0 lead in the third inning and an infield single in the top of the fourth inning gave Marist a 4-0 lead.

A single, double steal, sacrifice fly and Rider error contributed to a three-run, fifth inning for the Red Foxes and Marist pushed its lead to 7-0.

Marist had six hits to plate four runs in the top of the sixth inning for the final score on the mercy rule.

Junior Megan Ailand (Burlingame, Calif./Burlingame) pitched six innings for Rider allowing 15 hits.

Sophomore Monica Clark (Bryn Mawr, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) doubled and senior Montana Berg (Danville, Calif./Monte Vista) singled for the Broncs as Jayne Oberdorf threw a complete game two-hitter, recording six strikeouts.

Marist has won 13 in a row and 23 of its last 24 games.

Rider is scheduled for a MAAC doubleheader on Tuesday against Saint Peter's, beginning at 2:30pm.

-RU-