College Softball: University of Hartford 10, Rider University 0 (5 innings); Rider University 12, University of Hartford 4 (6 innings)

LAWRENCEVILLE — Freshman Emily Cottrell (Beachwood/Toms River HS South) hit her first two collegiate home runs and had five RBI as the Rider University softball team salvaged a split against Hartford on Tuesday afternoon (March 26) at Herb and Joan Young Field.

Cottrell was three for three in the second game, including a grand slam with two runs scored.

In the nightcap, Rider (4-24) opened the scoring with a five-run first inning, keyed by the Cottrell grand slam.

Sophomore Amanda Irving (Westminster, Md./Westminster) and sophomore Gina McCool (Marlton/Cherokee) each had an RBI single in the second inning as the Broncs extended the lead to 7-1.  Irving was four for four in the second game and had five hits in the doubleheader.

McCool hit an RBI single in the fourth inning as Rider extended the lead to 8-1 over the Hawks.  McCool had three hits and two RBI in the second game.

Hartford (8-15) cut the Bronc lead to 8-4 with two runs in the fifth and one in the sixth inning before the Broncs ended the game on the mercy rule with four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Cottrell led off the sixth with a home run and RBI hits from junior Kehli Washington (Lulea, Sweden/New Rochelle) and Irving (double), combined with a Hawk error allowed the Broncs to win 12-4.

Red-shirt freshman Krista Morrone (Pipersville, Pa./Palisades) threw all six innings, recording two strikeouts to pick up her fourth win of the season.

In the opener, Hartford was held to six hits but took advantage of four Bronc errors to win 10-0 in five innings.

The Hawks scored four times in the first inning (three unearned) and Hartford added three runs in the third inning (all unearned) and three in the fourth inning (two unearned) for the final score.

Washington, Irving and freshman Kim Valdes (Jupiter, Fla./King’s Academy) each had hits for Rider.  Washington and Valdes each had three hits in the doubleheader.

Freshman Ali Meagher (Clark/Arthur L. Johnson) took the loss, allowing 10 runs, two earned.

Rider travels to Saint Peter’s University on Saturday for a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference doubleheader at noon.