STOCKTON, CA – Sam Ward (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater Raritan) had a team-best three hits and two RBI's, but the Rider University softball team was swept by the University of the Pacific, 5-3 and 11-1, Wednesday afternoon. With the losses, the Broncs slip to 1-18, while the Tigers are now 14-13.

Pacific built a 4-0 lead in Game 1 with single runs in the first and second innings and a pair of runs in the third. Rider got on the board in the fifth on Ward's RBI double to score Grace Stansfield (Philadelphia, PA/William Penn Charter), who'd singled. Gianna Epps (Pottstown, PA/Pottstown) singled and later scored on a passed ball in the sixth to cut the deficit to 4-2. After the Tigers tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth, the Broncs again cut the deficit to two in the seventh, with Lani Moreno (Claremont, CA/Claremont) singling and Kiera Swank (Bear, DE/Caravel Academy) walking before an error allowed Moreno to score. With the tying runs aboard, Pacific got out of the jam with a double play and a strikeout to end the game.

Pacific struck for seven runs in the bottom of the first in Game 2 and never looked back. They'd tack on two runs in both the third and fourth innings to build an 11-0 lead before the Broncs got one back. Melanie Wilkinson (Richboro, PA/Council Rock South) led off the inning with a double before Kelsey Marigliano (Seaford, NY/Plainledge) followed with a single. Ward's RBI single up the middle cut the deficit to 11-1. But the Tigers closed out the game in five innings.

NOTES
- Brooklyn Trujillo (Henderson, CO/Prairie View) went the distance in Game 1, allowing five runs, two earned, on five hits and three walks in six innings. She struck out four.
- Emily Oltman (Collegeville, PA/Perkiomen Valley) started Game 2 in the circle and took the loss. She recorded just one out and allowed five earned runs on four hits and a walk.   
- Debra Jones (Bordentown, NJ/Bordentown) was tagged for six runs, five earned, on six hits and two walks, while striking out one in 3.2 innings of relief.
- The Broncs return to action on the east coast Saturday, when begin play in the Nor'Eastern Classic at Hartford and Central Connecticut. Rider faces Hartford at 9 a.m. and Maine at 1 p.m. Saturday in West Hartford, CT, before facing Central Connecticut in New Britain, CT, on Sunday at 9 a.m.  

BRONCS BY THE NUMBERS
- Ward had a team-best three hits and two RBI's on the day.
- Marigliano and Stansfield each reached safely four times. Marigliano had two hits and two walks, while Stansfield had a base hit and three walks.
- Gabby Bram (Jackson, NJ/Red Bank Catholic) and Moreno also had two hits each.
- Wilkinson, Moreno, Stansfield and Epps each scored one run.