Bats go silent during four-game weekend

By Jillian Shutt

The softball team was shut out this weekend, losing a pair of MAAC doubleheaders to Niagara on Saturday April 24 and Canisius on April 25.
“The weekend didn’t turn out as we had hoped. Learning experience this weekend we need to keep working on every part of our game to be that much better than our opponents,” said junior Amanda Centeno.
The team’s conference win-loss record has now fallen to a tie 4-4, when the Broncs started out strong with four wins and no losses.
“We need to keep a positive attitude and have a mentality that the desire and talent is on this team to accomplish our goal of making it to MAACs,” said Centeno.
Saturday’s doubleheader against Niagara was a disappointment for the Broncs who went scoreless in both games.
The Purple Eagles’ pitchers were strong, throwing a no-hitter in the first game and only a three-hitter in the second. These hits weren’t able to drive in any players, keeping the Broncs at zero for the night. Both games on Saturday ended with the mercy rule in the fifth inning with the Purple Eagles taking both 8-0, 12-0 respectively.
“We are definitely not giving up and know we have a challenge ahead of us, one that we are willing to work hard for,” said Centeno.
The Broncs had another long day on Sunday facing Canisius in a conference doubleheader. Rider came away winless for the weekend with Canisius taking both games by the mercy rule, 12-2 and 8-0, respectively.
Rider started out strong in the first game against the Golden Griffins, taking a 2-0 lead in the first inning off of RBI singles from Centeno and freshman Heather Muscara.
Canisius had a two-run home run in the bottom of the first to tie the game. They followed up in the second inning by taking a five-run lead and in the fifth inning Canisius hit a grand slam to end the game.
In the second game Rider was shut out for the third time this weekend by conference competitors.
“Canisius and Niagara were very good hitting teams that always put the ball in play to score runs every inning,” said Centeno.
The Broncs have lost six straight conference games since starting the year off with four wins and zero losses.
The doubleheader that was supposed to take place on Thursday, April 22, was called on account of rain and will not be rescheduled due to scheduling conflicts.
MAAC contenders, Manhattan and Siena, travel to Rider this weekend to challenge the Broncs. Rider goes to Fairfield on May 9 for another conference doubleheader, finishing off Rider’s MAAC competition for the year.
“We want nothing more than to compete, give our all on the field, and make it to MAACs this year,” said Centeno.