Box Score LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. – Rider used a six-run fifth inning to rally past Saint Peter's in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) softball action on Tuesday. The two teams played one game after the second game of a twinbill was rained out one week ago with the Broncs taking the opener, 14-12.
Samantha Storms (Lake Geneva, Wisc./William Bay) paced the Peacocks (0-39, 0-16 MAAC) with two hits, including a three-run homer in the fourth, along with two runs scored and three RBIs. Alyssa Cuevas (Slymar, Calif./Bishop Alemany) added two hits, two runs scored and an RBI while Jackie Riley (South Amboy, N.J./Cardinal McCarrick) posted three hits and a run scored in the loss.
Morgan Benedetti powered the Broncs (8-38, 5-13 MAAC) with a key three-run double in the fifth and also scored a run. Emily Cottrell recorded two hits, two RBIs and a run scored while Montana Berg tallied a hit, two runs scored and two RBIs in the loss.
For the third-straight game, Saint Peter's took the advantage only to see the opposing team to rally for the victory. The Peacocks grabbed a 6-3 lead before the Broncs scored six runs in the fifth and held on for the victory.
Trailing 6-3, Rider scored six times in the fifth. Berg got the scoring started with an RBI single down the left field line before Cottrell hit an RBI single to left field to make it a one-run game. With the bases loaded, Benedetti cleared the bases with a three-run double to give the Broncs the lead for good. Monica Clark added an RBI single up the middle to give Rider a 9-6 advantage.
In the sixth, Cuevas and Storms each walked with a Riley single to left sandwiched in between to load the bases. Kirsten Kelley (Seaford, N.Y./General Douglas MacArthur) coaxed a two-out bases loaded walk to bring home Cuevas and cut the margin to 9-7. The Broncs then retired four straight to secure the victory.
Rider jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first thanks to an RBI fielder's choice by Berg and a run-scoring double to center.
Saint Peter's answered to take the lead with a four-run third. Nicole Feoli (Burlington Township, N.J./Burlington) doubled down the left field line and Stacey Klempel (Winter Garden, Fla./Ocoee) singled left center to put runners on the corners. Cuevas plated Feoli on an RBI single to right before Storms smashed a three-run bomb to left field to hand the Peacocks a 4-2 margin.
The Broncs came back with a run in the third on an error before Saint Peter's scored twice in the fifth to extend its lead to 6-3. Riley started the rally with a single to left center before Storms doubled to center to put runners on second and third. Lee Harrison (Las Vegas, Nev./Coronado) brought home Riley on a sacrifice fly to left. With the bases loaded, Candice Koch (Oreland Park, Ill./Carl Sandburg) scored Storms on an RBI fielder's choice for a three-run advantage. Rider then scored six of the final seven runs to come away with the 9-7 victory.
Noea Pizana (Royse City, Texas/Royse City) took the loss for the Peacocks.
Saint Peter's returns to action on Saturday when the squad closes out the home slate with a doubleheader against Manhattan. Game time is 12 p.m. The Peacocks will honor both teams' senior class in between games, including Harrison and Klempel from Saint Peter's.
