April 26, 2007 - Monmouth 9 Rider 4 / Monmouth 10 Rider 1
April 26, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
College Softball
Monmouth University 9, Rider University 4
Monmouth University 10, Rider University 1
LAWRENCEVILLE—The Broncs lost a doubleheader to Monmouth Thursday. “Monmouth is good,” said Rider head coach Tricia Carroll, “but today we beat ourselves. We didn’t compete very well today, and we continue to lose games by not competing.”
In the first game, Rider freshman Megan Kozlowski (Richboro, PA/Council Rock North) hit a two-run home run in the first inning to give the Broncs a 2-1 lead. “It was an inside pitch and I just turned on it,” Kozlowski said. “I didn’t know it was gone right away. I just started running. I was just glad I was able to help the team put some runs up.”
It was her second home run of the season. Megan’s first home run was at Delaware two weeks ago. It wasn’t just her first home run at Rider, it was her first home run EVER. “I was very excited when I hit that one,” Kozlowski remembers.
“Megan is tough,” Carroll said. “That’s her second home run of the year. She’s not big (5’5”) but she swings properly, not hard, and gets the ball to go where she needs it to go. She’s done a great job of that. She doesn’t over swing, doesn’t try to hit for the fences, she just tries to put the ball in play, and she’s put it out a couple of times. She’s our best second baseman but when we have a drop ball pitcher we need her behind the plate to block the low pitches.”
“I love to catch, but wherever Coach puts me is fine,” said Kozlowski, who was a catcher in high school. “I just go out and work my hardest. I played second when I was younger. This was my second time in the outfield.”
“Megan is a nice player to have because she can play different positions,” Carroll said. “Today we threw her in the outfield. She’ll go wherever and look perfectly comfortable doing it. She puts a smile on her face and plays hard. She loves to play. Her attitude needs to rub off on some of our other players.”
Rider senior Desiree Harbaugh (Frederick, Md./Gov. Thomas Johnson) hit an RBI single to give Rider a 3-1 lead, and freshman Derrin Minunni (Cohes, NY/Shaker) stole home for a 4-1 lead in the third inning.
It was all Monmouth after that. The Hawks scored three runs in the sixth inning on three hits and an error to take a 6-4 lead, and added three runs in the seventh to seal the victory.
Hawk leftfielder/pitcher Heather Gordon had eight RBI in the twin bill and was the winning pitcher in relief of the second game.
Monmouth scored in the first inning on a walk, a sacrifice bunt, a ground out and a wild pitch. “We gave them a run in the first inning,” Carroll said.
In the second game, Gordon hit a grand slam in the third inning to give Monmouth (26-14) a 5-0 lead.
Senior Ashley Boulden (Brooklawn/Gloucester) had three hits on the day for Rider (6-29).
Rider plays Manhattan at Fordham in a MAAC doubleheader Saturday at 11am. Rider is currently 1-7 in the MAAC. Last year the Broncs won their final eight conference games to make the playoffs. “I think that is doable again this year,” Carroll said. “Our pitching has not been bad, we just haven’t made the plays behind them. If we make the routine plays we can compete, and we can win.”
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