Rider Softball Team Drops One to Lehigh

The Rider University softball team lost a non-conference game at Lehigh University on Wednesday, April 3.

Trailing 3-2, Lehigh rallied with four runs on three hits in the bottom of the sixth inning for the final score.

Rider opened the scoring in the first inning when freshman Dana Sensi (Allentown) hit her team-leading fourth home run of the season to give the Broncs a 1-0 lead.

A two-out walk and RBI triple allowed the Mountain Hawks to tie the game 1-1 in the bottom of the first.

Sophomore Gina McCool (Marlton/Cherokee) hit a two-run double to right center field in the top of the second inning to give Rider a 3-1 lead.  Sophomore Amanda Irving (Westminster, Md./Westminster) tripled to open the inning and scored the second Bronc run of the day.  The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) and Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Player of the Week for all games the final week in March, Irving had two of Rider’s eight hits on the day.

After Lehigh cut Rider’s lead to 3-2 in the bottom of the fourth, the Broncs rallied with two hits, including a single from freshman Samantha Judd (Thousand Oaks, Calif./Westlake) but Rider was unable to capitalize on a Lehigh error and left two on base to set up the final inning.  Judd went three for three on the day.

Red-shirt freshman Krista Morrone (Pipersville, Pa./Palisades) went the distance for Rider, scattering 10 hits.

Rider split two games against the Mountain Hawks last season, winning 6-3 at Herb and Joan Young Field on April 4, 2012. Rider and Lehigh last played in Bethlehem, Pa., on April 28, 2011 with the Mountain Hawks winning the opener 6-0 and the Broncs taking the nightcap 8-4.  In 2009, the Mountain Hawks won 8-6 in eight innings and 13-6 in Lawrenceville.  Rider has won 33 of the 49 games all-time against Lehigh with the Mountain Hawks winning 13 of the last 23 meetings since 2001.

Rider hosts Canisius College on Saturday in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference doubleheader beginning at 1pm at Herb and Joan Young Field.

Rider is 1-1 in conference play, having split with Saint Peter’s last weekend.  Canisius opens MAAC play with the Saturday doubleheader against the Broncs.

—Rider University