Rust, Newman Lead Blue Hens To 4-1 Nightcap Win Over Rider as Delaware Splits Doubleheader With Broncs
April 11, 2012
• Game 1 Boxscore
• Game 2 Boxscore
File Photos Courtesy of Mark Campbell
LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. -- Blue Hen righthander Hannah Rust allowed just one unearned run in the circle while Marisa Newman drilled a two-run homer as the University of Delaware softball team posted a 4-1 win during the nightcap and salvaged a doubleheader split with Rider University Wednesday afternoon at Herb and Joan Young Field. The Broncs took the opener 4-0 behind a one-hit shutout by Rachael Matreale.
The Blue Hens (9-33-1) jumped in front during the nightcap, scoring an early run during the top of the first inning. Jessica Grisler led off with a single to left, and after advancing to third with two outs, she scored when Michelle McKinnon legged out an infield single to shortstop.
The following inning Kaitlyn Breneman led off with a single to left, and after she moved to second when Newman reached on an error, Breneman scored on a single down the leftfield line by Rust. Maggie Creciun then beat out a bunt single to load the bases with nobody out, but Broncs pitcher Krysti Maronski rebounded to retire the next three Delaware batters to keep it a two-run contest.
Rider (14-23-1) cut the deficit in half during the bottom of the fourth when Heather Muscara led off with a single to left, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Lucy Higgins, and scored an out later when Lauren Davies reached on an error by Blue Hen shortstop Alicea Coy.
The Broncs looked to pull even in the sixth when Muscara singled with one out and Higgins followed with a double to left, but Coy threw out Muscara at the plate to keep Delaware in front. The Blue Hens then tacked on two insurance runs in the seventh as McKinnon led off with a single to left and two outs later Newman (at left) drilled a two-run homer to leftcenter, her second longball of the year.
Rust (at right) then fired a scoreless bottom of the seventh to pick up the win and improve to 5-6 on the season. She allowed just the one unearned run on six hits while striking out one and walking one, while helping herself with an RBI single and a walk at the plate. Grisler, McKinnon and Breneman each finished 2 for 4 with a run scored to lead the Blue Hen attack, while Newman had two runs batted in. Maronski gave up four earned runs on 10 hits while falling to 1-8 for Rider.
The opener remained scoreless until the bottom of the fourth inning, when the Broncs hit a pair of solo home runs to take the lead for good. Alyssa Paul opened the frame with a leadoff homer to leftfield, and one out later Allysen Breeden added a longball to left to make it a 2-0 game. Rider added two runs in the sixth as Muscara scored on a single up the middle by Lisa Blanton and Amanda Irving legged out an infield single to chase home Sam Pugh.
That would be plenty of offense for Matreale, who allowed a leadoff double to Grisler in the top of the first but did not allow a hit the rest of the way to record the shutout. Matreale also struck out five and walked three while improving to 13-8 on the season. UD junior Chenxi Jiao gave up two earned runs on five hits in 3.1 innings of work while dropping to 2-18 on the campaign, while Brianna Jennings was charged with two runs, one earned, on five hits in 2.2 frames of relief.
Delaware returns to Colonial Athletic Association play on Saturday with a 12 noon doubleheader at James Madison.
Back To Softball Home Softball Story Archive
