College Softball
Fairfield University 11, Rider University 0 / 5 innings
Fairfield University 10, Rider University 5
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Doubleheader
Valdes – 100th career hit

FAIRFIELD, Conn.—The Rider University softball team remained winless in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference with a doubleheader loss at Fairfield University on Friday afternoon.

For Rider (3-24, 0-4 MAAC) in game two, senior Kim Valdes (Jupiter, Fla./King's Academy) became the 50th Bronc softball player with 100 career hits when she singled in the seventh inning.  

"Kim getting her 100th career hit is very exciting," said head coach Jaci Timko.

Trailing 8-0, Rider senior Dana Sensi (Allentown) hit a two-out RBI double, scoring junior Josettee Spencer (Hillsborough) who had walked.  Sensi had three hits on the day for the Broncs and her 168 career hits are 15th best all-time at Rider.

"It was nice to see the offense get going in the second game," said Timko.  "Our defense really put us in a hole.  We need to be able to make the routine plays."

Senior Emily Cottrell (Beachwood/Toms River HS South) led off the top of the fourth inning with a double and a two-out triple by freshman Brianna Parisio (Sayreville/Sayreville War Memorial) got the Broncs to within 8-2.  For Parisio it was her first career hit.

Spencer hit a one-out triple in the fifth inning and after Sensi walked, Spencer stole home.  Valdes followed with a two-run home run to center field to cut the Stag lead to 8-5.  Valdes had two of Rider's eight hits in game two and now has three home runs for the season.

Fairfield (13-12, 2-0 MAAC) put together three straight hits, all with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning for the final score.

Junior Megan Ailand (Burlingame, Calif./Burlingame) threw five and one-third innings of relief, allowing only those two earned runs for the Broncs, while recording one strikeout.

The opener was all Fairfield as the Stags scored once in the first inning and plated five runs in the second inning for a six-run lead.  

"The first game, we struggled to get the offense going," Timko said.

Two Rider errors in the fourth inning led to five unearned runs for the Stags as Fairfield pushed its lead to 11-0.

Ailand threw four innings, allowing 11 runs, six earned.

The games were moved up one day in anticipation of the rain and snow expected to impact the area on Saturday.

Rider travels to Iona College for a MAAC doubleheader on Sunday.

-RU-