Box Score

Kissimmee, FL – Sophomore Samantha Bedker (Phoenix, AZ/ Sandra Day O'Connor) surrendered one run in a complete game effort, and was backed by an early offensive attack, as the Wagner College softball team defeated Rider, 5-1, on Friday afternoon at the Osceola County Softball Complex. In the win, the Seahawks improve to 3-14, while Rider falls to 2-14.
 
Bedker went the distance in the contest, surrendering a run on six hits while striking out six Broncs batters. Eight of the Seahawks' nine starters recorded a hit, with sophomore Kelsey Parker (Lynnwood, WA/ Lynnwood) and junior Kristen Matteoni (Reno, NV/ Galena) posting multi-hit efforts.
 
Wagner jumped ahead early in a three-run bottom of the first. With one out, the Seahawks put together back-to-back singles by junior Taylor Rauscher (Peoria, AZ/ Sunrise Mountain) and freshman Abigail Beasley (Peoria, AZ/ Centennial). Matteoni then loaded the bases with a walk.
 
Freshman Brenda Bott (Fountain Valley, CA/ Fountain Valley) then came to bat, grounding a ball to third. The fielder came home with the ball, and all runners were safe, making the score 1-0. That brought sophomore Jessica Albarran (Corona, CA/ Eleanor Roosevelt) to the plate, who delivered a two-run single to give the Green & White a 3-0 lead.
 
Wagner would extend the lead in the second on a sac fly by Rauscher, plating senior Carley Nicoletti (Plainville, NY/ CW Baker), who led off the inning with a double off the left field wall.
 
In the fifth, Wagner would add another run, as junior Hayley Sullivan (Bakersfield, CA/ North) lined a pitch inside the third base bag, scoring Matteoni for a 5-0 lead. Rider would tally a run in the top of the seventh on a two-out double, breaking up Bedker's shutout bid.
 
The Seahawks wrap up play at the Rebel Spring Games on Saturday with games against Green Bay (3:00 pm) and North Dakota (5:00 pm).