WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – Toni Niño (Adelanto, CA/Silverado) collected three hits, but the Rider University softball team was swept by hOURglass rival Monmouth, 3-0, and 7-4, Friday afternoon. With the losses, the Broncs fall to 8-18 (1-3 MAAC), while the Hawks are now 12-13 (4-0 MAAC).

In Game 1, the Hawks pushed across a run in the fourth on an Alex Holzman two-out RBI double, before adding two more in the sixth on a two-out, two-run single from Deangie Jimenez. The support was more than enough for Monmouth starting pitcher Amanda Riley, who struck out 12 in the complete-game three-hit shutout.

Four first-inning walks chased Game 2 starting pitcher Emily Oltman (Collegeville, PA/Perkiomen Valley) from the game after two-thirds of an inning as the Hawks scored four runs. In the top of the second, a Rider walk came around to score as Rachael Zeides (Woodbine, NJ/Ocean City) led off with a free pass, went first-to-third on a Payton Romines (Colorado Springs, CO/Air Academy) single and scored on a Brianna Parisio (Sayreville, NJ/Sayreville War Memorial) groundout to cut the deficit to 4-1. Monmouth got the run back in the bottom of the second on a Kayla Rosado double to make it 5-1.

Singles by Sam Ward (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater Raritan) and Keegan Zavodnik (Murrieta, CA/Lakeside) set the table for Zeides' two-out, two-run double in the top of the third. The Broncs threatened for more in the fourth with runners on the corners and one out. But a line-drive double play ended the threat. Monmouth would tack on two insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth. Niño tripled to lead off the seventh and scored on a Jordan groundout. But the Broncs couldn't erase the remaining three-run deficit.
 
QUOTES & NOTES
"We had two outstanding pitching performances today that really kept us in the game. Unfortunately, we did not attack the ball offensively and we weren't focused at the plate and it cost us." - Rider Head Coach Davon Ortega

- Cuttic took the Game 1 loss, allowing three earned runs on eight hits without walking a batter. She struck out two.
- Niño, Cuttic and Zavodnik each had at least one hit in both games.
- Oltman took the Game 2 loss, allowing four earned runs on four walks and two hits in 0.2 innings pitched.
- Debra Jones (Bordentown, NJ/Bordentown) pitched 5.1 innings of relief, allowing three earned runs on five hits and two walks, while striking out four. 
- Rider returns to action Sunday when it travels to Iona for a noon doubleheader. The games will be broadcast live on ESPN3.
 
BRONCS BY THE NUMBERS
- After seeing her seven-game hitting streak snapped yesterday, Zavodnik had a hit in each of today's games to give her hits in 10 of her last 12.
- Zeides led the Broncs with a pair of RBI's on the day.
- Gabby Bram (Jackson, NJ/Red Bank Catholic) also added a hit in Game 2.