BALTIMORE, MD – Freshman
Payton Romines (Colorado Springs, CO/Air Academy) hit the game-winning three-run home run in the top of the seventh as the Rider University softball team defeated St. Bonaventure, 5-4, Sunday afternoon. The Broncs (2-6) also suffered a 7-6 loss to Saint Peter's (1-2) Sunday while closing out play in the Coppin State Eagle Classic.
In the first game of the day, the Broncs battled back after Saint Peter's opened a 6-1 lead with a four-run fifth. Rider scored three runs in the sixth and two more in the seventh, but came up a run short in the 7-6 setback.
Rider again trailed in its second game, this time by a 4-1 score after five against St. Bonaventure. But after
Sam Ward (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater Raritan) cut the deficit to 4-2 with an RBI double in the sixth, Romines delivered the game-winning three-run shot to right, scoring
Toni Nino (Adelanto, CA/Silverado) and
Monica Clark (Bryn Mawr, PA/Archbishop Carroll) in the seventh.
QUOTES & NOTES
"We showed a lot of grit and perseverance in both games today. In Game 1, our defense had a let up. I'm proud of the fight we showed and the collective team effort we put together to come from behind and hang on for the win in Game 2."
– Rider Head Coach Davon Ortega
-
Emily Oltman (Collegeville, PA/Perkiomen Valley) went the distance in earning the win in the circle against St. Bonaventure. She allowed four runs, two earned, on five hits and three walks, while striking out a career-high eight batters.
-
Debra Jones (Bordentown, NJ/Bordentown) also went the full seven innings against Saint Peter's, allowing seven runs, six earned, on 11 hits and two walks, while striking out two.
- Nine different Broncs produced a hit on the day, including seven with multiple hits.
- The home run was the first of Romines' career.
BRONCS BY THE NUMBERS
-
Maddy Chain (Gloucester, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) collected her 10
th RBI of the year in Rider's seventh game. It wasn't until the 48
th game of the year last season when the first Bronc reached double-digit RBI's.
- Nino scored her 10
th run of the season in the team's eighth game. Rider's first double-digit run scorer didn't come until the 29
th game of the year in 2017.
-
Kiera Swank (Bear, DE/Caravel Academy), Ward and Nino had three hits each, while Romines,
Rachael Zeides (Woodbine, NJ/Ocean City),
Amanda Jordan (Somerset, NJ/Franklin Township) and
Elyse Cuttic (Easton, PA/Bethlehem Catholic) chipped in with two hits apiece.
- Clark and
Brianna Parisio (Sayreville, NJ/Sayreville War Memorial) also had one hit each.