LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – The Rider University softball team dropped a pair of one-run games to Siena, 3-2 in Game 1 and 4-3 in Game 2, Sunday afternoon at Herb & Joan Young Field. With the losses, the Broncs fall to 13-25 (3-7 MAAC), while the Saints are now 31-13 (10-3 MAAC).
In Game 1, the Saints struck first on a two-out RBI single from Angelina Stile, with the Broncs evening the score in the bottom of the second on an error on a hot shot to second base from
Brianna Koonce (Warminster, PA/William Tennent). The Saints pulled back in front on a two-out, two-run double from Stile in the top of the fifth, before the Broncs got one back in the bottom of the inning as
Julia Harsche (Staten Island, NY/St. Joseph-by-the-Sea) tripled and scored on
Gianna Epps' (Pottstown, PA/Pottstown) double to cut the deficit to 3-2. But Ava Fitzmaurice came on and faced the minimum in the final two innings, limiting the Broncs to a walk that was erased on a double play in the sixth, to earn the save.
The Broncs took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first in Game 2.
Jessie Niegocki (Marana, AZ/Mountain View) led off with a double, moved to third on Epps' sacrifice bunt and scored on
Chaela Crowder's (Simi Valley, CA/Simi Valley) single through the left side. Rider added two more runs in the fourth, loading the bases with two out on singles from
Kristyn Gardner (Perryville, MD/Perryville) and Niegocki and an Epps hit-by-pitch.
Jadeyn Merrill (Lamesa, TX/Lamesa) then delivered a two-run single up the middle to push the Broncs' lead to 3-0.
But Siena scored four times in the top of the seventh to take its first lead of the game. Three singles loaded the bases with one out for pinch hitter Ashley Giampolo, who delivered a bases-clearing triple to tie the game at 3-3. The Saints then took the lead on an infield single from Isabella Pardo. Rider nearly tied the game in the bottom of the seventh on a Burroughs shot to right center field. But the ball hit the top of the wall to stay in the park for a double. Gardner put a charge into a drive to right, but Siena right fielder Mikala Fletcher tracked it down for the final out.
Notes
- Niegocki fell for the first time in her last five starts, allowing three earned runs on five hits, two walks and a hit-by-pitch in a 7.0-inning effort Game 1. She struck out seven.
- Schmierer also went the distance in Game 2. She allowed four earned runs on seven hits and a hit-by-pitch. She struck out six.
- Rider's last 14 losses and 17 of its last 20 losses have come by two runs or less.
Broncs by the Numbers
- Niegocki led the Broncs with three hits, including a double, and scored twice.
- Epps had two hits, including a double, and drove in one.
- Crowder also had two hits and an RBI.
- Burroughs hit her team-leading 13
th and 14
th doubles of the year and scored a run.
- Gardner also contributed two hits and scored a run.
- Merrill had a hit and two RBI's in her lone plate appearance.
-
Maddie Luedtke (Gibbstown, NJ/Gloucester County Institute of Technology) contributed a base hit and a walk.
- Harsche tripled, was hit by a pitch and scored a run.
- Wright also tripled and walked once.
- Koonce also reached twice on a single and a walk.
- The Broncs left 11 runners on in Game 2.
Up Next
The Broncs wrap up their homestand Tuesday afternoon when they play host to Saint Peter's. First pitch from Herb & Joan Young Field is scheduled for noon.
