April 1, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

College Softball
Niagara University 5, Rider University 0
Niagara University 8, Rider University 5

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, NY—The Broncs were swept by Niagara in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference doubleheader Saturday. “Niagara is a good team, and I don’t want to take anything away from them, but we didn’t compete with them today,” said Rider head coach Tricia Carroll

In the first game, senior pitcher Heather Beintema (La Mesa, Calif./Grossmont) struck out seven, but the Rider offense compiled just four hits. “Heather didn’t pitch badly, but she wasn’t her best, and we didn’t score any runs to help her,” said Carroll.

In the second game, Rider (10-11, 0-2 MAAC) scored five runs in the sixth inning, four on a grand slam by junior Desiree Harbaugh (Frederick, Md./Gov. Thomas Johnson), her third home run of the season, to cut the lead to 7-5. “Des had a very good at bat, and there was no doubt about that home run. It was a shot,” said Carroll. “It was nice to do something with bases loaded. We haven’t been taking advantage of those situations.”

Niagara (15-7, 2-0 MAAC) hit five home runs in the doubleheader. “This is the best offensive Niagara team I’ve seen,” Carroll said.

Rider sophomore Tiffany Day Neutill (Agoura Hills, Calif./Oaks Christian) had two hits in the second game and three hits in the doubleheader.

Rider stays in Western New York to play a MAAC doubleheader at Canisius in Buffalo Sunday. “Any time you play a MAAC team, you have to show up ready to play,” said Carroll. ‘Today we didn’t seem to so that, and we better tomorrow.”

-RU-