March 16, 2007 - Columbia 8 Rider 0 / Rider 5 Butler 2
March 16, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
College Softball
Columbia University 8, Rider University 0
Rider University 5, Butler University 2
ORLANDO, FLA.—The Broncs split two games at the Rebel Spring Games in Florida Friday afternoon. “We settled down and played much better in the second game,” said head coach Tricia Carroll.
In the second game, Rider (3-10) rallied from a 2-1 deficit with single runs in the fourth and fifth innings adding two insurance runs in the sixth for the final score.
With the score tied at two in the fifth, freshman Derrin Minunni (Cohoes, N.Y./Shaker) executed a suicide squeeze scoring junior Tiffany Day-Neutill (Agoura Hills, Calif./Oaks Christian) who led off the inning with a triple. Day-Neutill hit a two-out, two-run double accounting for the two runs in the sixth for the Broncs.
“Derrin [Minunni] has done a nice job for us so far,” Carroll said. “She puts the ball in play and doesn’t try to do too much.”
“The insurance runs in the second game were huge for Lauren [Brunner],” Carroll added. “She had her off-speed pitches working and was able to keep Butler’s hitters off balance.” Brunner (Chino, Calif./Chino), a sophomore went the distance for Rider.
In the first game, the Broncs were shutout on four hits by Columbia. Day-Neutill had four hits in the second game and five on the day with senior Ashley Boulden (Brooklawn, N.J./Gloucester) adding three hits including a double in game two and totaled four hits on the day.
“It was important for us to come back after the first game,” said Day-Neutill, a pre-season All-MAAC selection. “I just went out, relaxed and let the game happen. I was pressing a little and I was able to not worry and just play and that was the key for all of us in the second game.”
Rider plays Vermont and Central Connecticut State on Saturday before returning north.
“It was important for us to come back in the second game,” Carroll said. “The juniors and seniors stepped up and led us and that’s what we need them to do. Ashley Boulden was key fouling off four pitches and staying alive to set up Tiffany knocking in the insurance runs. It was a good team effort.”
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