STATEN ISLAND, NY – Sam Ward (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater Raritan) had three hits, but the Rider University softball team was swept at Wagner, 3-2 and 10-5, Wednesday afternoon. With the losses, the Broncs fall to 8-22, while the Seahawks are now 12-19.
 
The Broncs immediately grabbed the lead in Game 1, with Toni Niño (Adelanto, CA/Silverado) singling, stealing second and scoring on Keegan Zavodnik's (Murrieta, CA/Lakeside) double in the top of the first. But Wagner took the lead on a two-out, two-run single from Maite Reece in the bottom of the third. The Broncs evened the score in the top of the sixth, as Zavodnik walked, went first-to-third on an Elyse Cuttic (Easton, PA/Bethlehem Catholic) single and scored on a Rachael Zeides (Woodbine, NJ/Ocean City) sacrifice fly. But Jessica Carlucci delivered what proved to be the game-winning RBI single for the Seahawks a half inning later as Wagner secured the 3-2 victory.

In Game 2, Wagner jumped out to a 5-0 lead with two runs in the first and three more in the second. Melanie Wilkinson (Richboro, PA/Council Rock South) got the Broncs on the board with an RBI infield single in the third, but Wagner scored two more in the third. Again, Rider scored in the fourth, with Cuttic reaching on a walk, Zeides getting aboard on an error and Gabby Bram's (Jackson, NJ/Red Bank Catholic) groundout plating Cuttic. Wagner again had the answer with two more in the bottom of the inning to take a 9-2 lead.

Cuttic delivered a two-out, two-run single in the top of the fifth and Zeides followed with an RBI single to cut the deficit to 9-5, but that was as close as the Broncs would draw. Wagner added an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth.
 
NOTES
- Cuttic went the full six innings in Game 1, allowing three earned runs on 10 hits without walking a batter. She struck out two.  
- Debra Jones (Bordentown, NJ/Bordentown) started Game 2 in the circle and took the loss. She allowed five runs, four earned, on seven hits in 1.1 innings pitched.
- Rider returns to action Saturday when it plays host to Saint Peter's in a MAAC doubleheader. First pitch from Herb & Joan Young Field is scheduled for noon.   
 
BRONCS BY THE NUMBERS
- Wilkinson, Zeides and Cuttic had two hits apiece for the Broncs.
- Cuttic and Niño scored twice each.
- Cuttic and Zeides each drove in two runs.
- Niño was successful on the team's only stolen-base attempt of the day.