LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – Gabby Bram (Jackson, NJ/Red Bank Catholic) led the Rider University softball team with two hits, but the Broncs were swept by Fairfield, 9-1 and 5-0, Saturday afternoon. With the losses, the Broncs fall to 6-27 (1-7 MAAC), while the Stags improve to 17-21 (7-5 MAAC). 

The Stags struck early in both games, scoring twice in the first and three more in the second of Game 1, before using a three-run sixth to abbreviate the game with a 9-1 victory. The Broncs lone run in Game 1 was scored in the fifth, when Bram led off with a double, Amanda Jordan (Somerset, NJ/Franklin Township) was hit by a pitch and Josettee Spencer (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) singled on a bunt to load the bases for Toni Nino (Adelanto, CA/Silverado), who walked to push across the run.

In Game 2, the Stags used a four-run first to gain all the run support they'd need. A Courtney Hankins RBI double, a two-run triple by Molly Roche and a run-scoring single from Gianna Kinhofer did the damage. Hankins doubled home another run in the second to account for the fifth and final run scored of the game. 

“We had a lot of mental mistakes and we didn't make the adjustments. At practice, we work on our swings and we work on defense and we have to apply that to a game-ready mentality and put a stop to it in the first inning and not wait until the end to try to spark something.” – Rider Head Coach Jaclyn Timko

• Emily Oltman (Collegeville, PA/Perkiomen Valley) took the Game 1 loss in the circle, allowing five runs, two earned, on seven hits and a walk in 1.2 innings pitched. 

• Elyse Cuttic (Easton, PA/Bethlehem Catholic) was the losing pitcher in Game 2, surrendering five earned runs on seven hits and a walk in two-plus innings pitched. 

• Sophomore catcher Kiera Swank (Bear, DE/Caravel Academy) caught the only attempted base stealer of the game, Kinhofer, with a dart to second base in the third inning of Game 2. 

BRONCS BY THE NUMBERS

• In addition to Bram's two hits, DeMello, Spencer and Shelby Miller (Roseville, CA/Whitney) added a hit apiece. 

• Delany DeMello (Roseville, CA/Roseville) hurled five scoreless innings of relief in Game 2, scattering two hits and two walks, while striking out five to lower her team-leading ERA to 3.44.

The Broncs return to action Wednesday, when they play host to Columbia in a non-conference doubleheader. The Code Cranberry twinbill starts at 3 p.m.