LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – Kelsey Marigliano (Seaford, NY/Plainledge) had four hits, including a walk-off RBI double in Game 1 as the Rider University softball team split its home and conference openers against Niagara Saturday afternoon at Herb and Joan Young Field. With the split, the Broncs move to 3-21 (1-1 MAAC), while the Purple Eagles are now 2-17 (1-3 MAAC). Both teams scored the winning runs in the seventh inning, with the Broncs scoring three to walk off in Game 1 and Niagara getting a game-winning two run home run with two out in the final frame.

Niagara built a 4-0 lead in Game 1 with three in the first and another in the fourth. The Broncs cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the fourth, with Gianna Epps (Pottstown, PA/Pottstown) leading off the frame with a double and Marigliano walking to set the table for Sam Ward's (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan) two-run double. After Niagara tacked on a run in the top of the fifth, the Broncs got it back on another RBI double from Ward in the sixth.

Gabby Bram (Jackson, NJ/Red Bank Catholic) got the seventh-inning rally started with an infield single before Shelby Miller (Roseville, CA/Whitney) followed with a double off the right-center field fence to put runners on second and third. Epps tied the game with a two-run double and scored the winning run on another two-base hit from Marigliano.

The Broncs opened the scoring in Game 2 with two outs in the third. Marigliano reached on a bunt single and scored on Grace Stansfield's (Philadelphia, PA/William Penn Charter) double to center. The lead would hold until the Purple Eagles were down to their final strike in the top of the seventh. But Kendall Watkins delivered a two-run home run to left center, giving the Purple Eagles the 2-1 win.

QUOTES & NOTES
"It was good. It was the first time that we actually came back. We fought as a team, so I was happy with how we were swinging the bats, especially because we started out flat and slow. So I was happy with how we came back and fought."

"We've got to hit the ball consistently. We can't hit the ball and then not hit the ball. We can't watch strikes go by. We have to start putting the ball in play a little bit more." – Rider Head Coach Davon Ortega

- Debra Jones (Bordentown, NJ/Bordentown) pitched 2.2 innings of perfect relief in Game 1 to pick up her first win of the year. She struck out four without allowing a baserunner.
- Brooklyn Trujillo (Henderson, CO/Prairie View) started Game 1 in the circle, allowing five runs, two earned, on six hits and two walks.
- Elyse Cuttic (Easton, PA/Bethlehem Catholic) went the distance in Game 1, allowing two earned runs on nine hits and one walk. She also hit three batters and struck out four. The complete game was her first of the year.
- The Broncs return to action Sunday, when they face Canisius. First pitch of the doubleheader from Herb & Joan Young Field is scheduled for noon.   

BRONCS BY THE NUMBERS
- Marigliano finished the day 4-for-6 with a double, two runs scored and an RBI. She also reached on a walk and a hit-by-pitch.
- Ward went 3-for-6 with three doubles and three RBI's.
- Stansfield also contributed three hits, including a double, while scoring and driving in one run each.
- Epps had two hits, both doubles, two runs and two RBI's.
- Lani Moreno (Claremont, CA/Claremont) chipped in with a hit and two walks.
- Miller, Bram, Kiera Swank (Bear, DE/Caravel Academy), Cuttic and Melanie Wilkinson (Richboro, PA/Council Rock South) also chipped in with one hit each, with Bram, Stansfield and Brianna Parisio (Sayreville, NJ/Sayreville War Memorial) also scoring once each.
- The Broncs were caught stealing for the first time in 10 attempts this season.