Broncs Softball Drops First 2 Games of the Battle at the Beach
Saturday, February 18, 2017
Rider Broncs athletic logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
CONWAY, SC (February 17, 2017)– Junior Monica Clark (Bryn Mawr, PA/Archbishop Carroll) homered against UNC Greensboro, but the Rider University softball team was defeated by the Spartans, 19-1, and host Coastal Carolina, 11-0, on the opening day of the Battle at the Beach Friday. With the season-opening losses, the Broncs are now 0-2. The Spartans improved to 2-3, while the Chanticleers are now 5-2.
In the first contest, the Spartans scored three in the first, one in the second and blew the game open with a nine-run third. The Broncs got their only run of the game on Clark’s solo shot to center to lead off the bottom of the fourth.
Against Coastal Carolina, the Chanticleers scored two each in the first and second innings, before posting a seven-run fourth. Armed with an 11-0 lead, Chanticleers sophomore hurler Taylor Rahach pitched a five-inning no hitter, striking out 10, while walking just one.
QUOTES & NOTES
“First game was all about taking the rust off. UNC Greensboro was aggressive and put the ball in play. We saw some good adjustments through the second round through the lineup and identified some opportunities. Monica Clark had a home run in the fourth, which put us on the map. We saw what adjustments need to be made and we’re looking to grow each and every game.”
“We are still trying to find our rhythm. This is a journey and we have to trust our process.” - Rider Head Coach Jaclyn Timko
• Four Rider freshmen made their collegiate debuts – Elyse Cuttic (Easton, PA/Bethlehem Catholic), Shelby Miller (Roseville, CA/Whitney), Emily Oltman (Collegeville, PA/Perkiomen Valley) and Sabrina Torres (Clifton, NJ/Paramus Catholic) each played their first games of college softball.
BRONCS BY THE NUMBERS
• The home run was the fourth of Clark’s career after hitting three as a sophomore.
• Tinkering with different line-up combinations, Timko gave 16 different Broncs a start in at least one of the two games.
• Cuttic led the Broncs in the circle with seven strikeouts in 3.2 innings against Coastal Carolina.
ON DECK
The Broncs play another two games at the Battle at the Beach tomorrow. They’ll face UNCG at 10 a.m. before capping the day with a 12:30 first pitch against the University of Missouri-Kansas City.