BALTIMORE, MD – Jessie Niegocki (Marana, AZ/Mountain View) had a team-high three hits, but the Rider University softball team was swept at Morgan State by a pair of 5-1 final scores Wednesday afternoon. With the losses, the Broncs fall to 23-17, while the Bears are now 23-13.

In Game 1, the Broncs scored first in the top of the second as Kaitlin Vazquez (Howell, NJ/Donovan Catholic [Brookdale C.C.]) singled with one out and took second on an error on the play. She then scored on Gianna Epps' (Pottstown, PA/Pottstown) two-out RBI single. The lead would hold until the fifth, when Morgan State's Melissa Paz led off the frame with a solo home run. Following a walk, Niegocki, the Broncs' starting pitcher, was replaced in the circle by Brooklyn Trujillo-Quintana (Henderson, CO/Prairie View), but the Bears' momentum continued with a hit-by-pitch, an error, a two-run double and a run-scoring groundout to account for the final 5-1 score.

In Game 2, the Bears took a 2-0 lead in the first on a hit-by-pitch, a bunt single, three errors and a sacrifice fly. Rider got a run back in the second, with Grace Stansfield (Philadelphia, PA/William Penn Charter) leading off with a single, moving two bases on an error and scoring on Kristyn Gardner's (Perrville, MD/Perryville) fielder's choice to cut Morgan State's lead to 2-1. But the Broncs couldn't draw any closer and the Bears tacked on two more runs in the fourth and another in the fifth to earn another 5-1 victory.

Notes
- Niegocki took the Game 1 loss, allowing two runs, one earned, on two hits, a walk and two hit-by-pitches in 4.0 innings pitched. She struck out six.
- Anna-Marie Groskritz (Granby, CT/Granby Memorial) started Game 2 in the circle and took the loss. She allowed five runs, but just two earned, on three hits, two walks and two hit-by-pitches in 4.0 innings pitched.
- Kathryn Schmierer (Racine, WI/Racine Lutheran) pitched 2.0 scoreless innings in relief in Game 2, allowing just one hit.
- Rider is now 0-5 vs. Morgan State in a series that dates back to 2014.   
- The Broncs return to action Saturday, when they travel to Saint Peter's. First pitch from Jersey City is scheduled for noon.    

Broncs by the Numbers
- Niegocki went 3-for-7 on the day with three singles.
- Stansfield added two hits and a run scored.
- Vazquez contributed a hit and a run.
- Epps had a hit and an RBI.
- Kellie Ervin (Buford, GA/Mountain View) also added a hit.
- Gardner contributed an RBI.
- Olivia Burroughs (Escondido, CA/San Pasqual) reached on a hit-by-pitch.
- Kennedy Jarrard (Carlsbad, CA/Carlsbad) drew the Broncs' lone walk of the day.
- After having success slowing down attempted base stealers in MAAC play, non-conference opponents have now been successful on 12 of their last 13 attempted stolen bases against the Broncs, including a 7-of-7 performance from the Bears today.