NEW BRITAIN, CT – Melanie Wilkinson (Richboro, PA/Council Rock South) erupted for three home runs and nine RBI's, but the Rider University softball team fell in a pair of games at Central Connecticut Sunday, 12-11 and 18-7. With the losses, the Broncs dip to 1-20, while the Blue Devils are now 9-10.

In Game 1, the Blue Devils built a 6-0 lead with a run in the first, four more in the second and another in the third. Rachael Zeides (Woodbine, NJ/Ocean City) singled and Lani Moreno (Claremont, CA/Claremont) and Melanie Wilkinson (Richboro, PA/Council Rock South) walked to load the bases with one out. Gabby Bram's (Jackson, NJ/Red Bank Catholic) groundout plated the Broncs' first run before an error allowed a second to score.

CCSU got both runs back in the bottom of the fifth, before the Broncs erupted for nine runs in the top of the sixth, including a pair of Wilkinson home runs. Her first came with no outs, following a Moreno single. The Broncs got their next three runs on free passes with the bases loaded, before Wilkinson cleared the bases with a two-out grand slam to stake Rider to an 11-8 lead. But the Blue Devils responded with a pair of two-out RBI doubles to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth and, with a pair of one-out free passes in the seventh, walked off with an RBI single.

Rider immediately scored five runs in the top of the first of Game 2, including Wilkinson's third home run of the day. Gianna Epps (Pottstown, PA/Pottstown), Kelsey Marigliano (Seaford, NY/Plainledge) and Grace Stansfield (Philadelphia, PA/William Penn Charter) reached consecutively with two singles and a walk to load the bases before Zeides delivered a one-out RBI single. The Broncs' second run scored on a wild pitch before Wilkinson blasted a two-out, three-run home run to give Rider a 5-0 lead.

CCSU got three runs back with a leadoff homer in the first and a two-run blast in the second. Sam Ward (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater Raritan) and Zeides responded with back-to-back solo shots in the top of the third to push the Broncs' lead back to 7-3. A Blue Devils' solo home run and sacrifice fly in the third cut the lead to 7-5, before a grand slam in the fifth pushed CCSU in front, 9-7. The wheels fell off in the sixth, with the Blue Devils scoring nine runs on six hits and three walks to enact the mercy rule.

NOTES
- Brooklyn Trujillo (Henderson, CO/Prairie View) started Game 1 and took a no decision, allowing five earned runs. She struck out three.
- Elyse Cuttic (Easton, PA/Bethlehem Catholic) took the Game 1 loss, pitching 4.2 innings of relief. She allowed seven runs, six earned, while striking out five.
- Debra Jones (Bordentown, NJ/Bordentown) started and took the Game 2 loss. She struck out three in 5.1 innings pitched.
- Emily Oltman (Collegeville, PA/Perkiomen Valley) also came on in relief in Game 1. Her one out recorded came via strikeout.
- The Broncs return to action Wednesday, when they travel to the University of Pennsylvania for a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.  

BRONCS BY THE NUMBERS
- The home runs were the first of the season for Wilkinson, who took possession of the team lead.
- Wilkinson entered the day with one career home run and 13 RBI's. Her nine RBI's today give her a team-leading 10 for the year.
- Entering the day, Rider had scored 21 runs, had two home runs and 17 RBI's. The Broncs scored 18 runs Sunday on five home runs and matched their season RBI total with 17.
- Ward and Zeides each hit their second home runs of the season. Wilkinson (3), Ward (2) and Zeides (2) have accounted for all seven of Rider's home runs this season.
- Zeides and Moreno each were successful on a stolen base attempt today, pushing Rider's total to 8-for-8 on the year.
- Wilkinson and Zeides led the Broncs with three hits each, while Stansfield, Moreno, Epps and Marigliano had two apiece.
- Wilkinson, Zeides, Ward and Moreno scored three runs apiece, while Stansfield and Marigliano scored twice each.
- Zeides drove in two, while Stansfield, Moreno, Ward, Bram, Brianna Parisio (Sayreville, NJ/Sayreville War Memorial) and Cuttic each had a single RBI.