BUIES CREEK, NC – Jessie Niegocki (Marana, AZ/Mountain View) collected six hits Saturday as the Rider University softball team split a pair of games at the Campbell Camel Stampede Saturday morning. The Broncs defeated Wagner, 5-2, for their first win of 2023, before falling to the host Camels, 3-0. With the decisions, the Broncs move to 1-3 on the young season, while Wagner fell to 2-4 and Campbell improved to 8-5.

Making her first collegiate start in the circle, Fallyn Stoeckel (Nutley, NJ/Nutley) gave up two runs in the top of the first, before settling in and holding the Seahawks scoreless the rest of the way in the complete-game effort. The Broncs pulled ahead with three runs in the fourth. Freshmen Maddie Luedtke (Gibbstown, NJ/Gloucester County Institute of Technology) and Jadeyn Merrill (Lamesa, TX/Lamesa) set the table with a walk and a bunt single, respectively, before Amanda Cooper (Huntsville, TX/Huntsville) delivered a two-out, two-run double to tie the game at 2-2. Niegocki immediately followed with the go-ahead RBI single to center.

The Broncs added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the seventh, with Niegocki making the Seahawks pay for an error, delivering an RBI double to center, scoring Cooper. A Gianna Epps (Pottstown, PA/Pottstown) single and a Brianna Koonce (Warminster, PA/William Tennent) sacrifice fly later, the Broncs pushed their lead to 5-2. Stoeckel worked around a one-out error and got a lineout double play to end the game, facing the minimum in the seventh.

Against Campbell, the Camels got single runs in the second and third innings to take a 2-0 on Niegocki, before Merrill took over in the circle. Campbell tacked on another run in the fifth and two more in the sixth to push their lead to 5-0. The Broncs loaded the bases in the top of the seventh, with Kristyn Gardner (Perryville, MD/Perryville) leading off with a walk and Cooper and Niegocki following with singles. Rider got its first run of the game as Chaela Crowder (Simi Valley, CA/Simi Valley) hit a sacrifice fly to score Gardner. But the Camels recorded the final out to strand the bases loaded and end the game.

Quotes & Notes
"We had a good first win today, but ultimately our nemesis continues to be stranding runners on base and not making offensive adjustments earlier in the game. We had some good things happen, but still have a lot of work to do." - Rider Head Coach Davon Ortega

- Stoeckel made her first collegiate start in the circle, earning the victory against Wagner. She allowed two earned runs on six hits without walking a batter in the full 7.0 innings pitched. She struck out seven.  Rider debut, finishing the Ohio game with 1.2 scoreless innings. She allowed just one hit.
- Niegocki started in the circle vs. Campbell and took the loss. She allowed two earned runs on three hits and four walks over 3.0 innings pitched. She struck out one.
- Merrill pitched the final 3.0 innings in relief and allowed three earned runs on four hits and four walks, striking out one.  
- Katie Brunner (Whippany, NJ/Whippany Park) and Emma Rambo (Bangor, PA/Bangor Area) made their Rider debuts with a pinch hit appearances vs. Campbell.

Broncs by the Numbers
- Niegocki led the Broncs with a 6-for-7 effort on the day, including a 3-for-3 performance with a double, a walk, two RBI's and a run scored against Wagner. She then went 3-for-4 with three of Rider's five hits vs. Campbell.
- Cooper also contributed both of her hits on the day, including a double, against Wagner. She drove in two and scored two more.
- Merrill, Epps, Olivia Burroughs (Escondido, CA/San Pasqual) and Laneya Wright (Tucson, AZ/Marana) contributed one hit each on the day.
- Merrill, Luedtke and Gardner scored one run each, with Luedtke and Gardner reaching on walks.
- Koonce and Crowder also contributed one RBI each.

Up Next
The Broncs wrap up Campbell Camel Stampede action tomorrow, when they play Wagner at 9 a.m.