College Softball: Columbia University 7, Rider University 6 / Rider University 4, Columbia University 3

LAWRENCEVILLE — The Rider University softball team split the 2013 home opening doubleheader at Herb and Joan Young Field on Sunday afternoon (March 10), defeating Columbia University 4-3 in the night cap after coming up one run short, 7-6 in the first game.

Rider (2-11) was led by a four-hit day (two doubles) from freshman Dana Sensi (Allentown).  Sensi also scored three times and walked twice.

Trailing 1-0 in the first inning of the second game, Sensi hit an RBI single, scoring junior Kehli Washington (Lulea, Sweden/New Rochelle) who led off with a walk.  Sensi then scored on a sacrifice fly by sophomore Lauren Davies (Pittsburgh, Pa./Seneca Valley) as Rider (2-11) took a 2-1 lead.

Washington, who has 97 career hits, scored three times in the doubleheader and walked twice.

Washington scored Rider’s third run in the bottom of the second, coming around from first base after a fielding error by Columbia after a single from sophomore Allysen Breeden (Hagerstown, Md./North Hagerstown).  Breeden had two hits, two runs scored and three RBI on the day.

After Columbia cut the Bronc lead to 3-2, Rider scored what turned out to be a big insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning when sophomore Amanda Irving (Westminster, Md./Westminster) hit a two-out RBI single, scoring freshman Emily Cottrell (Beachwood/Toms River HS South) who led off the inning with a walk.  Cottrell walked three times in the two games.

Columbia (2-5) used two hits and a Rider error to plate one run in the top of the seventh inning for the final score.

Red-shirt freshman Krista Morrone (Pipersville, Pa./Palisades) went the distance, scattering eight hits and allowed two earned runs while recording three strikeouts.

In the opener, despite six errors from Columbia, Rider’s rally fell one run short as the Broncs lost 7-6.

Trailing 4-0, Rider scored one in the bottom of the third inning when Sensi scored after a Lion error.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Breeden launched her second home run of the season, a two-run shot to left field with a Cottrell sacrifice fly tying the game at 4-4.

Columbia immediate responded with a three-run home run in the top of the fifth inning to take a 7-4 lead.

Rider used two Columbia errors and an RBI fielder’s choice from Kim Valdes (Juniper, Fla./King’s Academy) to get to within 7-5 and the Broncs used two more Lion errors and a Breeden RBI fielder’s choice for the final score in the bottom of the seventh.  Valdes had three hits on the day.

The Broncs had the bases loaded in both the first and seventh innings but only plated one run out of both rallies combined as Rider left 14 runners on base.

Freshman Montana Berg (Danville, Calif./Monte Vista) took the loss, working a complete game with three strikeouts while scattering nine hits and allowing four earned runs.

Rider hosts future Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference opponent Monmouth University in a single game on Wednesday, March 13 at 3 p.m. at Herb and Joan Young Field on the Lawrenceville campus.