Wednesday, Mar. 30, 2022
Rider Broncs (11-9) vs. Lafayette Leopards (5-18)
Location: Lawrenceville, NJ – Herb & Joan Young Field
First Pitch: 2:30 p.m.
Watch Live – ESPN3 (Game 1) (Game 2)
Live Stats – GoBroncs.com
Twitter – Twitter.com/SoftballRider

** Head coach Davon Ortega is seeking batgirls/batboys for the team's home games. In order to sign please visit this link: https://bit.ly/3CJPzIN. It is a commitment to the entire doubleheader. **

What You Need To Know
- Following a week off, the Rider Softball team returns to action with a final tune-up before MAAC play when it plays host to Lafayette in a doubleheader Wednesday afternoon.  
- The Broncs have posted a 11-9 record so far this season. Outside of a pair of lopsided losses in its first three games, Rider's losses have all been within three runs or less, while seven of its 11 wins have come by a five-run margin or more.
- Rider's wins so far this season have come against George Washington, Norfolk State (2), Bryant (2), Wagner (2), Hampton, Morehead State, East Carolina and Cornell. On March 18, Rider challenged Penn State, falling, 2-0, before being edged, 2-1, in eight innings by the Nittany Lions on March 20.
- With a .345 team batting average, the Broncs rank sixth in the nation. Jessie Niegocki leads the way at .459, good for 19^th in the nation, while Grace Stansfield is 83^rd nationally at .412.
- Elena Gonzalez has driven in 24 runs so far this season. Her 1.20 RBI's per game rank 16^th nationally.
- As a pitcher, Niegocki's 9.3 strikeouts per seven innings also rank 56^th.
- Amanda Cooper and Niegocki are in the Top 50 nationally at 1.00 run per game (41^st).
- Rider leads the all-time series with Lafayette, 46-24. Rider snapped a seven-game losing streak to the Leopards with a doubleheader sweep on March 28, 2018, in Easton, PA, the last time the two teams met.
- The Broncs were picked to finish eighth in the MAAC Preseason Poll.
- Elena Gonzalez and Lani Moreno were picked to the Preseason All-MAAC Team.
- Gonzalez earned All-Region First Team honors last season, becoming the Broncs' first All-Region selection since 2004, when three Broncs – Heather Beintema, Amanda Tu (both First Team) and Maddy Boulden (Second Team) – earned the honor.
- Gonzalez and Moreno were each named to the All-MAAC First Team a year ago, again setting a first since 2004, as the duo was the first pair of Rider teammates to earn the honor. Courtney Weed, Amanda Tu and Heather Beintema each earned the honor in 2004.
- In an expanded eight-team field last year, Rider was made its first MAAC Championship appearance since 2006 and just the fourth for the program in 24 years in the league. Seventh-seeded Rider won its first game of a three-game series at second-seeded Canisius and pushed the Griffs to the brink, leading 5-1 after four innings in the decisive third game, before falling, 7-5.
- The Broncs are led by fifth-year Head Coach Davon Ortega. At 17-20 (.459) last season, Rider posted its best overall winning percentage since 2006 (24-28, .461) under Ortega's tutelage.