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In the nightcap, senior Gina McCool (Marlton/Cherokee) had three of Rider’s 11 hits and added two RBI to pace the offense with McCool compiling four hits on the day.

Trailing 1-0 after a first inning infield RBI single for the Peacocks, Rider took a 4-1 lead in the top of the third inning on three two out hits and a Saint Peter’s error.  After junior Kim Valdes (Jupiter, Fla./King's Academy) reached on an error, the next two batters walked and McCool followed with a two-run single up the middle.  Sophomore Megan McDonough (Olney, Md./Sherwood) and junior Montana Berg (Danville, Calif./Monte Vista) each followed with RBI singles to give the Broncs a three-run lead.

Valdes hit a sacrifice fly in the top of the sixth inning to put Rider ahead 5-1 and in the seventh inning, leading 5-2, McDonough and Berg again hit run scoring singles which along with a bases loaded walk and RBI groundout gave the Broncs a 9-2 lead.

McDonough threw a complete game four-hitter in game two, recording a career-high eight strikeouts while allowing four walks, along with two earned runs to record her third win of the season.

“Megan pitched well,” said Carroll who now has 398 career wins in 21 seasons at Rider.  “There were a couple too many walks but she got the job done.”

In the opener, Rider had a season-high 17 hits and out-hit the Peacocks by one but it wasn’t enough in a 12-8 loss, giving Saint Peter’s only their second win of the season.

Senior Amanda Irving (Westminster, Md./Westminster) led off the game with her second home run of the season, giving the Broncs a 1-0 lead.

After the Peacocks got two runs in the bottom of the first, Rider responded with a three-run second inning, led by RBI singles from sophomore Amanda Crimarco (Levittown, N.Y./Kellenberg) and junior Dana Sensi (Allentown).

Crimarco had t

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After the Peacocks responded with two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, Rider loaded the bases with one out in the top of the seventh but could not score as Rider stranded 11 runners in the game.

DeMello, who was three for three at the plate in game one, went four innings in the circle for Rider, allowing nine hits and six earned runs while recording two strikeouts.

“The opener was disappointing,” Carroll said. “We had 17 hits and normally eight runs will win you the game. Delany just wasn’t herself pitching today. Days like that happen but you wish it wasn’t in a conference game.”

Rider hit .412 in the doubleheader (28/68) but left 19 runners on base.

Rider and Saint Peter’s last met on April 21, 2014 when the Broncs lost the opener 5-3 and won the nightcap 13-0. Rider and Saint Peter’s last met in Jersey City on March 30, 2013 when the Broncs lost 4-1 in the opener before rebounding for an 11-2 win to split the MAAC series.

Rider and Saint Peter's split two MAAC Games in 2012 with the Broncs winning the opener behind a no-hitter from Rachel Matreale.

In 2011, Rider and Saint Peter's met in Jersey City with the teams splitting the MAAC doubleheader with the Broncs rebounding in the nightcap 6-0 after a 2-1 opening game loss. Rider swept Saint Peter's to open conference play in 2010 and overall the Broncs have won 31 of the 55 games in the series.

Since Rider, Saint Peter’s and Monmouth are all about an hour from each other the three-way rivalry between the three New Jersey MAAC teams is called the hOURglass Rivalry. The spelling is to emphasis the fact that it is OUR rivalry.

Rider hosts Columbia University on Tuesday in a non-conference doubleheader at Herb and Joan Young Field, beginning at 3pm before traveling to Siena College and Quinnipiac University for a pair of conference doubleheaders April 25-26.

“We have some work to do to get ready for the upcoming weekend,” Carroll added.