LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ –
Elyse Cuttic (Easton, PA/Bethlehem Catholic) had three hits, including a grand slam in Game 2 as the Rider University softball team split its conference-opening doubleheader with Quinnipiac Saturday afternoon at Herb & Joan Young Field. Quinnipiac took Game 1, 6-1, before the Broncs won Game 2, 10-0, in five innings. The Rider win was its first by mercy rule since April 21, 2014. With the split, the Broncs move to 6-16 (1-1 MAAC), while the Bobcats are now 11-17 (1-1 MAAC).
The Broncs scored first in the bottom of the second inning of Game 1, with Cuttic and
Keegan Zavodnik (Murrieta, CA/Lakeside) both singling to begin the inning and moving to second and third on a
Monica Clark (Bryn Mawr, PA/Archbishop Carroll) sacrifice bunt. With two outs, Cuttic crossed the plate on an error to make it 1-0 Broncs. But after three scoreless frames, Quinnipiac scored six unearned runs on two hits and three errors in the top of the sixth to secure the 6-1 victory.
In Game 2, the Broncs plated a run in the first, with Toni Niño (Adelanto, CA/Silverado) singling and scoring after
Amanda Jordan (Somerset, NJ/Franklin) hit a bunt single and the late throw to first base went errantly down the right field line. Rider added five more unearned runs in the second, with
Payton Romines (Colorado Springs, CO/Air Academy) being hit with a pitch with the bases loaded and Cuttic following with her team-leading fourth home run of the season, a grand slam to right center to make it 6-0 after two.
Rider tacked on four more in the fourth to make it 10-0. Romines reached on a hot shot to second and took second, third and home on wild pitches. Cuttic walked, moved two bases on wild pitches and scored on a
Rachael Zeides (Woodbine, NJ/Ocean City) sacrifice fly, while Zavodnik walked, Clark reached on an error and both scored on a
Gabby Bram (Jackson, NJ/Red Bank Catholic) two-run double.
The support was more than enough for starting pitcher
Emily Oltman (Collegeville, PA/Perkiomen Valley), who finished off a complete-game, three-hit shutout.
QUOTES & NOTES
"We're still struggling to find consistency but I'm happy with our mental toughness and resiliency today. I'm proud of how we were able to bounce back in Game 2 and will look to carry that momentum forward."
– Rider Head Coach Davon Ortega
- Cuttic went the distance in the circle in the Game 1, allowing six unearned runs on five hits and one walk.
- Oltman struck out three over her five shutout innings, while limiting Quinnipiac to just three hits and four walks.
- The win by mercy rule in Game 2 is the Broncs' first since a 13-0 win over Saint Peter's on April 21, 2014.
- Rider returns to action Thursday, when it plays host to Coppin State for a non-conference doubleheader. First pitch from Herb & Joan Young Field is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.
BRONCS BY THE NUMBERS
- Cuttic and Zavodnik each had three hits on the day to lead the Broncs.
- Zavodnik now maintains a seven-game hit streak and has hit safely in eight of her last nine games.
- Included in Zavodnik's production was her team-leading seventh double of the season.
- Cuttic scored a team-high three runs and also drove in a team-high four with her team-leading fourth home run of the season.
- Bram and Niño added two hits apiece. Bram doubled, drove in two and scored a run, while Niño scored twice.
- Sprung into action because of an injury in Game 1, Romines singled, scored twice and added an RBI.
