SOUTH ORANGE, NJ – Olivia Burroughs (Escondido, CA/San Pasqual) had five hits, including four for extra bases, and six RBI's, but the Rider University softball team dropped a pair of close decisions at Seton Hall Wednesday, falling 11-10 in Game 1 and 3-1 in Game 2. With the losses, the Broncs fall to 6-22, while the Pirates are now 22-11.

The Broncs immediately jumped on the Pirates for three runs apiece in each of the first two innings of Game 1. Jessie Niegocki (Marana, AZ/Mountain View) walked and scored on an error for the first run, before Burroughs delivered an RBI double and Brianna Koonce (Warminster, PA/William Tennent) followed with an RBI single to make it 3-0 Broncs after one. Maddie Luedtke (Gibbstown, NJ/Gloucester County Institute of Technology) led off the second with an infield single, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and Gianna Epps' (Pottstown, PA/Pottstown) single put runners on the corners. Julia Harsche's (Staten Island, NY/St. Joseph-by-the-Sea) fielder's choice plated Luedtke, before another error brought Harsche home. Burroughs then contributed her second RBI double in as many innings to make it a 6-0 Rider lead. 

Rider's lead grew to 7-0 on a run-scoring fielder's choice from Koonce, scoring Jadeyn Merrill (Lamesa, TX/Lamesa) in the fourth, while Burroughs blasted a two-out, three-run home run in the fifth to push the advantage to 10-0 in the top of the fifth. But the wheels fell off from there. The Pirates got five runs back in the bottom of the inning to cut the Broncs' lead in half, added four more in the sixth to make it a 10-9 game and finally capitalized on a pair of Rider errors that would've ended the game, walking it off on a two-run double from Abby Wingo.

The Broncs again scored first in the fourth inning of Game 2, with Harsche leading off with a double, moving to third on a Merrill single and scoring on Burroughs' groundout. But Wingo delivered a two-run single in the fifth and the Pirates tacked on an insurance run on a sacrifice fly in the sixth. Luedtke led off the seventh with a walk to bring the tying run to the plate. But Pirates pitcher Sydney Babik retired the next three batters to secure the victory.  

Notes
- In line for a save, Merrill took the tough-luck loss in the circle in Game 1, allowing a pair of unearned runs on a hit and two walks in two thirds of an inning pitched.
- Kathryn Schmierer (Racine, WI/Racine Lutheran) started Game 1 and later reentered into the circle. All told, she allowed six runs, four earned, on eight hits, three walks and a hit-by-pitch. She struck out three over 4.1 innings.
- Fallyn Stoeckel (Nutley, NJ/Nutley) also pitched 1.1 innings of relief, allowing three earned runs on three hits and a hit-by-pitch. She struck out two.
- Niegocki started Game 2 in the circle and took the loss. She allowed two earned runs on six hits, three walks and a hit-by-pitch, striking out four over 4.1 innings pitched.
- Merrill pitched the final 1.2 innings of Game 2, allowing an earned run on a hit and three walks.
- The Broncs have lost nine straight games, all by two runs or less. Dating back to March 4, 14 of the Broncs' last 17 losses have come by two runs or less.

Broncs by the Numbers
- Burroughs went 5-for-7 with three doubles, a home run and six RBI's. She went 4-for-4 with two doubles, a home run and five driven in in Game 1 alone.
- Harsche doubled twice and reached twice on walks on the day. She scored three runs and stole a base.
- Merrill also scored three runs and had two hits.
- Epps contributed two hits, a run scored and a stolen base.
- Luedtke and Wright each had a hit and a walk. Wright's hit was a double and Luedtke scored a run.
- Koonce added a single and an RBI.
- Niegocki walked four times and scored twice.
- Chaela Crowder (Simi Valley, CA/Simi Valley) also reached once on a walk.

Up Next
The Broncs return to action Tuesday, April 11, when they play host to Morgan State in a non-conference doubleheader. First pitch of Game 1 from Herb & Joan Young Field is scheduled for 2 p.m. on ESPN+.