Wednesday, Apr. 6, 2022
Rider Broncs (16-10, 3-1 MAAC) vs. Drexel Dragons (15-8, 4-2 CAA)
Location: Lawrenceville, NJ – Herb & Joan Young Field
First Pitch: 2:30 p.m.
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
- The Rider Softball team plays host to non-conference foe Drexel for a Wednesday afternoon doubleheader.
- The Broncs had won seven-straight games, including their first seven at home, prior to a nine-inning setback in Game 2 vs. Iona on Monday.
- Jessie Niegocki threw the first Rider no hitter in nearly 10 years on Apr. 2 vs. Fairfield. The five-inning no-no was the first since Rachael Matreale also threw a five-inning no-hitter on Apr. 7, 2012, against Saint Peter's. Niegocki's no hitter was the 15^th in Rider Softball history.
- For her effort, Niegocki was named MAAC Pitcher of the Week, joining teammate Anna-Marie Groskritz (Mar. 22) in earning the honor this season.
- Rider has posted a 16-10 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 nine of its 16 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), Lafayette (2), Fairfield (2), Iona 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 .331 team batting average, the Broncs rank 15^th in the nation and first in the MAAC. Jessie Niegocki leads the way at .426, good for 39^th in the nation (1^st-MAAC), while Grace Stansfield is 80^th nationally at .407 (2^nd-MAAC).
- Elena Gonzalez has driven in 29 runs so far this season. Her 1.12 RBI's per game rank 32^nd nationally, while her 0.35 doubles per game rank 41^st.
- As a pitcher, Niegocki's 8.7 strikeouts per seven innings also rank 76^th.
- The Rider pitching staff's collective 2.33 earned run average ranks 29^th nationally.  
- Rider owns a slim 26-25 lead in the all-time series with Drexel. Most recently, the two teams split a doubleheader on April 26, 2018 in Lawrenceville.
- 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.