BUFFALO, NY – Lani Moreno's (Claremont, CA/Claremont) two-out, two-run double capped a six-run top of the seventh as the Rider University softball team erased a five-run deficit to defeat Canisius, 7-6, in Game 2 to earn a split of a Saturday road doubleheader. The Griffs won Game 1, 4-0. With the split, the Broncs move to 14-16 on the year, while the Griffs are now 19-10.

In Game 1, Canisius scored the game's first run on a throwing error following a flyout in the first. Another fielding error in the second led to another unearned run in the second after an infield single. In the fourth, Canisius plated two runs on a squeeze play with the second scoring on a throwing error. The four runs of support were more than enough for Canisius starting pitcher Alexis Churchill, who pitched a complete-game one-hit shutout without walking a batter. She struck out five. Kennedy Jarrard's (Carlsbad, CA/Carlsbad) base hit to right center in the top of the sixth was the Broncs' lone hit of the game.

Canisius again scored first in Game 2 with two in the first inning. The Griffs got a single, followed by a pair of walks and an RBI double to score their first run, before a throwing error allowed the second run to score. Rider got a run back in the top of the second, as Moreno doubled, moved to third on a groundout and scored on Kaitlin Vazquez's (Howell, NJ/Donovan Catholic) sacrifice fly. Following three scoreless frames, Canisius scored four in the sixth to push its lead to 6-1. An infield single, a stolen base and two wild pitches allowed the first run to score, before a throwing error plated another. The Griffs added another pair of RBI singles to make it 6-1.

But the Broncs weren't done. Five of the first six Broncs to come to the plate in the seventh reached on either a hit or a walk, with Kelsey Marigliano's (Seaford, NY/Plainedge) bases-loaded walk and Gianna Epps' (Pottstown, PA/Pottstown) single each driving in a run to make it a 6-3 deficit. After the Griffs got the second out, Elena Gonzalez (Ashburn, VA/Stone Bridge) hit a two-run single up the middle to cut the Canisius lead to one, before Moreno lined the go-ahead two-run double over the right fielder.

Jessie Niegocki (Marana, AZ/Mountain View), who'd come on in relief for the final out of the sixth, worked around a pair of two-out walks to close out the Griffs in the bottom of the seventh and secure the win.   

Quotes & Notes
"We weren't on our game as a team all day, but I absolutely love the fight we showed to come back and score six runs in the seventh. We didn't quit and just kept competing. We needed a spark and Grace Stansfield's at bat to lead off the seventh inning in Game 2 was it. I'm glad to have gotten the split, but we need a mindset overhaul tomorrow." – Rider Head Coach Davon Ortega

- Debra Jones (Bordentown, NJ/Bordentown) went the distance in Game 1, allowing four runs, but just one earned, on five hits and three walks, while striking out three.  
- Anna-Marie Groskritz (Granby, CT/Granby Memorial) started Game 2 and just two of her six runs allowed were earned. She allowed six hits and five walks, while striking out six in 5.2 innings pitched.
- Niegocki took the win, allowing a hit and two walks in 1.1 scoreless innings.
- The Broncs and Griffs complete their series Sunday, when they play a noon doubleheader.   
 
Broncs by the Numbers
- Moreno led the Broncs at the plate with two hits, two RBI's and a run scored.
- Alyssa Ansara (Waterville, OH/Anthony Wayne) also contributed a pair of hits with a 2-for-3 effort in Game 2.
- Gonzalez drove in two and scored what proved to be the winning run in Game 2.
- Epps, Marigliano and Vazquez each drove in one.
- Seven different Broncs scored once each in Game 2.