LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – Rider University softball pitchers
Debra Jones (Bordentown, NJ/Bordentown) and
Elyse Cuttic (Easton, PA/Bethlehem Catholic) didn't allow an earned run Saturday as the Broncs swept Iona, 2-1 in nine innings and 1-0, on Senior Day. With the sweep, the Broncs' first of the season, Rider ends the year at 10-44 (6-14 MAAC), while the Gaels moved to 18-25 (12-8 MAAC). The complete-game shutout was Cuttic's second straight, following a gem thrown on Friday against Fairfield.
In Game 1, the Gaels plated a run in the top of the second, but the Broncs evened the score in the third.
Kelsey Marigliano (Seaford, NY/Plainedge) ripped her second hit of the day, advanced to second on a wild pitch, took third on
Rachael Zeides' (Woodbine, NJ/Ocean City) infield single and scored on a
Grace Stansfield (Philadelphia, PA/William Penn Charter) sacrifice fly to right. Following five scoreless innings, the Broncs walked off in the ninth.
Lani Moreno (Claremont, CA/Claremont) doubled with one out before
Kiera Swank (Bear, DE/Caravel Academy) followed with a double of her own to drive in the winning run. Jones went all nine innings in the circle, allowing only one unearned run, while striking out seven.
Rider took advantage of Iona miscues to take a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third in Game 2. Marigliano and Zeides reached consecutively on errors by the shortstop to put runners on the corners with one out before Marigliano scored on a wild pitch. The support was all Cuttic would need, as she limited Iona to just eight hits and one walk.
QUOTES & NOTES
"The fight and the 'team' play that I've expected all season finally happened for us. What a great way to send out seniors out on a high note and what a great way to show everyone what the future of Rider Softball can be."
– Rider Head Coach Davon Ortega
- Jones scattered seven hits and two walks in the complete-game, nine-inning effort in Game 1.
- Jones' fourth win of the year tied her with
Brooklyn Trujillo (Henderson, CO/Prairie View) for the team lead.
- Cuttic utilized her defense, completing the shutout without benefit of a strikeout on 89 pitches.
- Cuttic finishes the year with 14 consecutive scoreless innings. The seven-inning complete-game shutout was her first of the year, following a six-inning, mercy-rule-shortened effort Saturday against Fairfield.
- Rider scored 10 of its 11 runs this weekend after the second out had been recorded to go 3-1.
- Rider retook the all-time series lead from Iona, 23-22. Rider last swept the Gaels in 2015 on Herb & Joan Young Field.
- With today's results, the MAAC Championship field is now set. The Broncs defeated four of the six teams in the field - Monmouth, Iona (twice), Fairfield and Niagara - at least once this year. Assuming Marist at least splits with Niagara Sunday, the Red Foxes will take the No. 1 seed and host the tournament. Monmouth (16-4) has clinched a first-round bye, while Siena (11-7), Iona (12-8), Niagara (10-8) and Fairfield (10-10) have all punched their tickets to the tournament.
- Prior to the doubleheader, the Broncs honored their four-member senior class –
Maddy Chain (Gloucester, NJ/Gloucester City),
Amanda Jordan (Somerset, NJ/Franklin),
Brianna Parisio (Sayreville, NJ/Sayreville War Memorial) and Swank.
BRONCS BY THE NUMBERS
- Moreno led the Broncs with four hits on the day, including two doubles. She scored one run.
- Marigliano had two hits and scored two of Rider's three runs.
- Marigliano's 53 hits this year are the second-most by a Bronc in a single season in the last 10 years. Toni Niño (2018), Dana Sensi (2015) and Kehli Washington (2013) each had 54 hits.
- Zeides also added a pair of hits today.
- Swank's walk-off double was her third two-base hit of the season.
- Stansfield had a hit and an RBI on the day.
- Chain also collected a hit on Senior Day.
- Marigliano finished the year hitting a team-best .323 with 25 runs scored. She hit .397 with 13 runs scored in league play.
- Moreno also finished above .300 against MAAC opponents at .305. She had a six doubles in league play, the most extra-base hits on the team, one ahead of Marigliano's five.
