LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – Lani Moreno (Claremont, CA/Claremont) collected five hits, including a home run, but the Rider University softball team was swept by Iona, 5-1 and 5-4, Sunday afternoon on Herb and Joan Young Field. With the losses, the Broncs even their record at 10-10, while the Gaels improve to 14-7.  

Home runs were the story in Game 1. The Gaels immediately grabbed the lead on a Jessica Chilcott solo shot to lead off the top of the first and added to the lead with a two-run home run from Emma Capuano in the fourth. Rider got a run back in the bottom of the inning on Moreno's second homer of the year, a solo shot over the right-center field fence to make it 3-1 Iona. In the top of the seventh, Jamie Sheeran padded the Gaels lead with a two-run shot to left-center. Iona pitcher Kara Zazzaro picked up her third win in as many games in the series, limiting the Broncs to one earned run on six hits without walking a batter in 7.0 innings pitched.

In the top of the first in Game 2, an error on a would-be third out prolonged the inning for Sheeran's RBI double, giving Iona a 1-0 lead. Kelsey Marigliano (Seaford, NY/Plainledge) laced a double to lead off the bottom of the frame for Rider and scored on Moreno's double off the right-center field fence to tie the game at 1-1. Three-straight errors on the infield to start the second loaded the bases for Iona and Jessica Chilcott delivered a two-run single to make it 3-1. Natalia Meray followed with an RBI single and a double steal plated another to make it 5-1 Iona.

A pair of Gaels' errors on the infield and a Kaitlin Vazquez (Howell, NJ/Donovan Catholic) double allowed Rider to cut the deficit to 5-2 after three. In the fifth, Rider pieced together a two-out rally, with Caitlyn Danovich (Simi Valley, CA/Agoura) singling to get things started, before Brianna Koonce (Warminster, PA/William Tennent) followed with an RBI double. Koonce then scored on a pinch-hit RBI single from Chaela Crowder (Simi Valley, CA/Simi Valley) to cut the deficit to one, 5-4. But Iona reliever Ciarra DiGuilio worked out of further trouble in the fifth, pitched a clean sixth and handed it off to Kara Zazzaro for the save in the seventh.

Quotes & Notes
"This was a tough weekend for us. There were glimpses of good things happening. We just couldn't put it together. We get to see what we're made of now - we can either roll over or use this as motivation to step up through the rest of the season." - Rider Head Coach Davon Ortega

- Debra Jones (Bordentown, NJ/Bordentown) started Game 1 and took the loss, allowing three earned runs on six hits and two walks, while striking out two.
- Jessie Niegocki (Marana, AZ/Mountain View) came on in relief in Game 1 and pitched 3.2 strong innings, allowing two earned runs on one hit and two walks, while striking out two.
- Anna-Marie Groskritz (Granby, CT/Granby Memorial) went the full 7.0 innings in Game 2 and took the tough-luck loss. All five of the runs charged to her were unearned. She scattered six hits and three walks, while striking out four.
- Prior to Game 1, the Broncs honored their three-member senior class of Jones, Marigliano and Melanie Wilkinson (Richboro, PA/Council Rock South).
- The Broncs return to action Tuesday, when they play host to Monmouth for a 1 p.m. doubleheader.
 
Broncs by the Numbers
- Moreno led the Broncs, going 5-for-7 with a double, a home run, two RBI's and a run scored. The production came a day after going 4-for-7 with a double and four RBI's.
- On the week, covering six games and including a doubleheader Wednesday at Saint Peter's, Moreno hit .600 (12-20) with two doubles, two home runs, eight RBI's and three runs scored. She hit safely in all six games, including multiple hits in each of the last five.
- Marigliano added four hits on the day, including three in Game 2 to push her career total, covering two seasons at Holy Family and the last three at Rider, to 199.
- Gianna Epps (Pottstown, PA/Pottstown), Danovich, Vazquez and Koonce each contributed two hits.
- Marigliano, Koonce, Danovich and Stansfield scored once each.
- Crowder and Koonce each had an RBI.