May 6, 2007 - Rider 6 Iona 5 / Rider 6 Iona 5
May 6, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
College Softball
Rider University 6, Iona College 5
Rider University 6, Iona College 5
LAWRENCEVILLE—The Broncs ended the 2007 season on a high note, sweeping Iona in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference doubleheader Sunday. “The players kept working hard and kept getting better and didn’t quit on the season,” said head coach Tricia Carroll. “I am really pleased that we have almost everyone back for next season. Not competing and quitting are not in my vocabulary.”
In the first game, senior Ashley Boulden (Brooklawn, N.J./Gloucester) had two hits with senior Desiree Harbaugh (Frederick, Md./Gov. Thomas Johnson) adding a double and three RBI. Boulden finished with three hits on the day and 148 in her career, 21st highest at Rider.
“It means a lot to get the two wins on senior day,” said Harbaugh who along with Boulden were honored between games. “The team came together for us (myself and Ashley) so it really means a lot. We really pulled together.”
Freshmen Candice Harris (Las Vegas, Nev./Coronado), Megan Kozlowski (Richboro, Pa./Council Rock-North) and sophomore Lauren Brunner (Chino, Calif./Chino) also had two hits each for the Broncs with Kozlowski totaling three hits on the day.
Junior Jessica Holland (Hatboro, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham) went the distance for Rider (11-36, 5-11 MAAC) allowing only two earned runs.
“We really had nothing to lose,” said Harbaugh who is graduating next week with a degree in Elementary Education/Psychology. “We wanted to go out with a bang and we did. The last day you are going to ever play in college, you want to go out and do your best and we were able to do that. It’s been fun. Ashley and I have had a great four years, we’ve met some great people and we’ve had a good team effort all four years and all of the friends we’ve had, it has definitely been fun.”
Rider jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the first two innings, keyed by a two-run double by Harbaugh and an RBI single by Kozlowski. Iona pitching also walked in two runs during the second inning.
The Gaels rallied in the fourth, scoring three times off two Bronc errors and a home run by Iona shortstop Courtney Christie cutting Rider’s lead to 6-5 in the fifth inning. Holland retired seven of the last nine Gael batters to preserve the win.
In game two, Rider jumped out to a 3-0 lead keyed by an RBI single from Bronc junior Tiffany Day-Neutill (Agoura Hills, Calif./Oaks Christian) and an Iona error. Day-Neutill had three hits on the day, including two in the second game and enters her senior season with 154 hits, 16th highest at Rider.
Four hits and two Bronc errors put Iona ahead in the sixth 4-3 before Rider rallied with three runs in the bottom of the sixth, scoring twice off two Gael throwing errors before Day-Neutill hit an RBI single to left field for the eventual game-winning run.
Iona hit a double to left field after the seniors (Harbaugh and Boulden) partially collided causing the ball to drop in and the Gaels followed with an RBI single cutting the lead to 6-5. Brunner recorded the final out on a pop up to secure the win. “We were joking that the senors wanted to play more so they tried to extend the game,” said Carroll of the two-out collision induced double. “I guess they were trying to scare everyone a little and make it a closer game,” Brunner added.
Brunner scattered ten hits in the complete game win and retired the first 11 Gael batters of the game, working a perfect game into the fourth inning. “The defense played really well in the second game,” said Brunner. “Knowing that Iona can hit the ball hard and knowing I am a ground ball pitcher, it helped settle me down with the defense behind me making the plays early.”
“Iona is a very good hitting team,” said Brunner who did some good hitting herself with four hits on the day. “I tried to throw as many screw balls as possible since that is my best pitch. I was able to work outside for a lot of strikes. Megan [Kozlowski] called a very good game, mixing in the off speed pitches which helped keep them off balance.”
The Broncs ended the season winning four of six games, including three of four in the conference and in the process knocked Iona out of contention for the final playoff berth which went to Marist. “We were playing for us,” Carroll said. “It didn’t matter what the other teams had to do, we wanted to win, we want to win every time we step onto the field and as competitors, we want that to be our statement, that we will battle, we won’t quit no matter the circumstances. The kids had fun today, didn’t quit and played hard.”
“I think we let the game dictate what is going to happen sometimes,” said Carroll referring to the overall season. “They worked through that. Today’s games were a perfect example. We got ahead in the first game, made some mistakes but held on and in the second game, Iona battled back, took the lead and then we battled back late and held on again. We settled down and got the job done where as in previous games we didn’t do that. It’s good to see we kept fighting.”
“I am very happy that the seniors went out with two wins,” Brunner added. “We struggled all season and I’m glad we got to end it on a good note and that they were able to have fun. They both did very well themselves.”
The Broncs return 13 of 15 players for the 2008 season.
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