GREENSBORO, NC – Seven different Broncs contributed at least two hits in the Rider University softball team's 10-4 win over George Washington and the Broncs went on to split a pair of games Saturday at the Spiro Classic. Following the Broncs' win over the Colonials, Rider fell to host UNC Greensboro, 8-1, in the day's second game. Rider is now 1-2, while the Colonials fell to 1-4 and the Spartans improved to 4-3.

The Broncs scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning and never trailed against George Washington. Elena Gonzalez (Ashburn, VA/Stone Bridge) singled home Amanda Cooper (Huntsville, TX/Huntsville) with the first run, before freshman Olivia Burroughs (Escondido, CA/San Pasqual), in her first collegiate at bat, delivered a two-out, two-run single to score Gonzalez and Grace Stansfield (Philadelphia, PA/William Penn Charter) to put the Broncs on top, 3-0. The Broncs would score one more in the third, three in the fourth, a single run in the fifth and two more in the sixth, providing starting pitcher Kathryn Schmierer (Racine, WI/Racine Lutheran) with more than enough support to earn the win in her collegiate debut.

The Rider offense couldn't maintain the torrid pace of the day's first game, collecting one run on five hits in the nightcap. UNCG scored three runs in bottom of the first and led throughout. Rider scratched across a run in the fifth on a Laneya Wright (Tucson, AZ/Marana) RBI double, scoring Burroughs, who'd doubled with two outs to extend the inning. But the Spartans scored four runs in the bottom of the frame and cruised to the 8-1 victory.  
 
Quotes & Notes
"We made some great offensive adjustments today. The bats came out swinging and our pitching did well enough to keep us in both games. The goal is to get better each day and today we did that." – Rider Head Coach Davon Ortega

- Schmierer earned the win in her Rider debut, allowing four runs, three earned, on three hits and four walks. She struck out one – the first batter she faced.
- Jessie Niegocki (Marana, AZ/Mountain View) closed out the Game 1 win with 1.1 innings of scoreless relief. She limited the Colonials to a hit and a walk and punched out one batter.
- Anna-Marie Groskritz (Granby, CT/Granby Memorial) went the distance in Game 2. She allowed eight runs, six earned, on 10 hits and two walks in 6.0 innings pitched. She struck out six.   
- In addition to Burroughs and Schmierer, Kristyn Gardner (Perryville, MD/Perryville) made her Rider debut as a defensive substitution behind the plate for the final 1.1 innings.
- The Broncs close out Spiro Classic action tomorrow, when they face George Washington at noon.

Broncs by the Numbers
- Lani Moreno (Claremont, CA/Claremont) led the Broncs with four hits on the day, going 4-for-7 with a home run, three RBI's and two runs scored.
- Burroughs was one of five Broncs with three hits on the day, going 2-for-3 with a double and three RBI's against George Washington, before doubling and scoring Rider's lone run against UNCG.
- Stansfield, Gonzalez and Cooper all had three hits and two runs scored. Cooper homered and drove in two, while Gonzalez had a double and an RBI.
- Niegocki also had three hits, including a double, scored a run and drove one in.
- Wright and Chaela Crowder (Simi Valley, CA/Simi Valley) also had two hits apiece.
- Alyssa Ansara (Waterville, OH/Anthony Wayne) also contributed a hit.
- Brooklyn Trujillo-Quintana (Henderson, CO/Prairie View) was 1-for-2 in stolen-base attempts as a pinch runner.