NASHVILLE, TN – Lani Moreno (Claremont, CA/Claremont) went 2-for-3 with an RBI, but the Rider University softball team was edged by Tennessee State, 3-2, to close out play in the Tennessee State Tiger Classic on Sunday. With the loss, the Broncs fall to 0-4, while the Tigers are now 4-8.

The Tigers struck first in the bottom of the fourth with a pair of unearned runs, as the first two base runners reached via errors, before Analeigh Coursey delivered a two-out, two-run double to put the Tigers on top, 2-0. Gianna Epps (Pottstown, PA/Pottstown) stopped the bleeding with a highlight-reel diving play for an inning-ending groundout.

Rider got on the board the next half inning on a two-out RBI single from Chaela Crowder (Simi Valley, CA/Simi Valley), scoring Epps, who'd singled earlier in the frame. The Tigers got the run back in the bottom of the fifth to make it 3-1. Rider kept the pressure on in the top of the sixth, as Elena Gonzalez (Ashburn, VA/Stone Bridge) led off with a double and scored on a Moreno groundout to cut the deficit in half. But the Broncs went down in order in the seventh and Tennessee State came away with the victory.
 
Quotes & Notes
"Our program showed significant progress this weekend and we learned a lot about ourselves as a team. We had some strong pitching performances all weekend, but our nemesis is a one-inning let-up. Once we start to find consistency, I believe we can start to make things happen." – Rider Head Coach Davon Ortega

- Brooklyn Trujillo-Quintana (Henderson, CO/Prairie View) started in the circle and took the loss. She allowed three runs, one earned, on five hits in 4.1 innings. She struck out two and didn't issue a walk.
- Debra Jones (Bordentown, NJ/Bordentown) pitched 1.2 no-hit innings of relief, limiting the Tigers to two walks.  
- For their weekend-long contributions, Moreno and Gonzalez were named to the All-Tournament Team.
- The Broncs return to action next weekend, when they play doubleheaders at Kennesaw State (Friday) and Georgia State (Saturday), before finishing the weekend with a single game at Georgia Tech on Sunday. The games are part of the Interstate 75 Challenge.    
 
Broncs by the Numbers
- Both teams had five hits on the day. Moreno led the Broncs with two, while Gonzalez, Epps and Crowder had one each.
- Gonzalez and Epps each scored a run.
- Moreno and Crowder accounted for RBI's.
- Alyssa Ansara (Waterville, OH/Anthony Wayne) stole her first base as a Bronc.