College Softball
Canisius College 11, Rider University 6
Canisius College 10, Rider University 3
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Doubleheader

BUFFALO, N.Y.—The Rider University softball team had 19 hits in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference doubleheader at Canisius College on Sunday afternoon but the Broncs left a combined 20 runners on base, losing twice, 11-6 and 10-3.

“We were able to match the hot bats of Canisius for the most part,” said head coach Jaci Timko.  “We had many opportunities and just have to cash in on them more.  We continue to battle and that's good to see but continue to be missing that one key hit.”

Trailing 6-0 in the opener, Rider (7-38, 4-13 MAAC) scored twice in the top of the third inning.  Sophomore Toni Nino (Adelanto, Calif./Silverado) singled with one out and senior Kim Valdes (Jupiter, Fla./King's Academy) followed with an RBI double.  Senior Montana Berg (Danville, Calif./Monte Vista) then singled down the right field line to cut the deficit to four runs.

Nino had two hits for the Broncs in game one.

Canisius led 11-2 in the top of the fifth inning when Berg doubled with one out and after a walk to freshman Kiera Swank (Bear, Del./Caravel Academy), sophomore Meagan Finnerty (Monroe, N.Y./Monroe Woodbury) singled through the right side to load the bases.  A wild pitch plated one run and junior Morgan Benedetti (Ewing) hit an RBI single to right field, making it 11-4 as the Broncs staved off the mercy rule.

Benedetti had two hits in the first game.

Berg capped a three for three game with a seventh inning home run, her third of the season, scoring Valdes who reached on an error as Rider made the final score 11-6.  Berg was a triple short of hitting for the cycle.

Valdes and Berg each scored twice in the opener.

Junior Megan Ailand (Burlingame, Fla./Burlingame) went the first two and two-thirds innings, allowing nine hits and nine earned runs while striking out one.

Sophomore Kaitlyn Kallert (Woodland Park/Passaic Valley) worked the final three and one-third innings, allowing only two runs and scattering five hits while striking out a season-high four.

In the second game, senior Emily Cottrell (Beachwood/Toms River HS South) gave Rider a 1-0 lead when she led off the second inning with a home run.  For Cottrell, it was her team-leading seventh home run of the season.

Cottrell had two of Rider's seven hits in the second game.

Trailing 6-1, Rider worked a two out, two-run rally when Benedetti walked, went to second on a wild pitch and she eventually scored on a Golden Griff error.  Junior Josettee Spencer (Hillsborough) followed with a single to left field as the Broncs got to within three runs.

Canisius used five hits to plate four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning for the final score as the Broncs went scoreless in the sixth and seventh innings.

Kallert scattered 12 hits and allowed seven earned runs in six innings with one strikeout in game two.

Also for Rider, sophomore Monica Clark (Bryn Mawr, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) had two hits in the nightcap.

This was Rider's final road games of the 2016 season.  The Broncs host Saint Peter's for a single conference game on Tuesday at 1pm and have a non-conference single game scheduled for Thursday against La Salle at 4pm.

On Saturday, May 7 is the final MAAC doubleheader as the Broncs host Quinnipiac and Rider wraps up the season and the six-game home stand with a non-conference doubleheader against Delaware State on Sunday, May 8 beginning at 2pm.

-RU-