WASHINGTON, DC – Debra Jones (Bordentown, NJ/Bordentown) pitched a complete-game shutout and the Broncs' offense erupted for a season-high eight runs as the Rider University softball team defeated Winthrop, 8-0, in six innings to close out Buff & Blue Challenge action Sunday morning. The win is the Broncs' first of the season, while the Eagles drop to 12-10.

Rider pushed two runs across in the bottom of the first, with Kelsey Marigliano (Seaford, NY/Plainledge) leading off and scoring on a Lani Moreno (Claremont, CA/Claremont) squeeze bunt. Chaela Crowder (Simi Valley, CA/Simi Valley) followed with a solo home run to put the Broncs on top, 2-0, after one. Marigliano again set the table in the third with a leadoff double, before Moreno homered to put the Broncs up, 4-0.

In the sixth, the Broncs scored four to enact the mercy rule. Melanie Wilkinson (Richboro, PA/Council Rock South) and Elyse Cuttic (Easton, PA/Bethlehem Catholic) both walked to lead off the inning, before an error on an Alyssa Ansara (Waterville, OH/Anthony Wayne) sacrifice bunt brought Wilkinson home. A Marigliano bunt single loaded the bases, before Rachael Zeides (Woodbine, NJ/Ocean City) walked it off with a bases-clearing double.  

Quotes & Notes
"Today was a great team effort. We executed on all parts of our game and our slow, daily progress finally culminated in a big win." - Rider Head Coach Davon Ortega

- Jones scattered two hits and two walks, while striking out four for her first-career complete-game shutout.
- It was Jones's second-consecutive complete-game effort and the 11^th of her career.
- The home runs were the first in the collegiate careers of both Crowder and Moreno and the first for the Broncs this season.
- The Broncs return to action next Sunday, when they travel to Delaware for a doubleheader. First pitch from Newark, DE, is scheduled for noon.  

Broncs by the Numbers
- Zeides' game-winning hit was the 100th of her collegiate career, spanning one year at Holy Family and the last three at Rider.
- Marigliano went 3-for-3 on the day with three runs scored.
- Zeides, Moreno, Crowder, Grace Stansfield (Philadelphia, PA/William Penn Charter) and Ansara also contributed one hit each.
- Zeides and Moreno each finished with three RBI's.
- Moreno, Crowder, Wilkinson, Caitlyn Danovich (Simi Valley, CA/Agoura) and Ansara each scored a run.
- Elena Gonzalez (Asburn, VA/Stone Bridge), Stansfield, Wilkinson and Cuttic also reached via walks.
- The Broncs' eight runs today easily eclipsed their previous season high of three.
- Rider's eight hits are also a new season high, one more than the seven it compiled against Creighton (Feb. 22) and at Georgia State (Feb. 29).