GREENEVILLE, NC – Freshman Kendall Reda-Fehsal (Succasunna, NJ/Roxbury) went 3-for-3 in her collegiate debut and Jessie Niegocki (Marana, AZ/Mountain View) and Jadeyn Merrill (Lamesa, TX/Lamesa) added a pair of hits each as the Rider University softball team opened the 2024 season with a 10-4 win over North Carolina Central University. The win is the Broncs' first in a season opener in nearly 20 years (March 2, 2004 vs. Penn). NCCU falls to 4-7 with the loss.

The Broncs immediately jumped on the Eagles for five runs in the top of the first. Reda-Fehsal's two-out RBI double scored another first-year Bronc, junior transfer Asiah Bell (Tucson, AZ/Canyon Del Oro [Central Ariz. Coll.]), who'd singled with one out in her first at bat as a Bronc. Rider then made the Eagles pay for a throwing error that prolonged the inning with four-consecutive RBI singles from Merrill, Julia Harsche (Staten Island, NY/St. Joseph-by-the-Sea), Fallyn Stoeckel (Nutley, NJ/Nutley) and Shelby Dyer (Clarksboro, NJ/Kingsway Regional).

NCCU clawed back with a solo home run in the third and three more runs in the fourth to draw to within one, 5-4. Merrill replaced starting pitcher Anna-Marie Groskritz (Granby, CT/Granby Memorial) in the circle. Two inherited baserunners scored, but Merrill got out of the inning without relinquishing the lead.

The Broncs responded with a four-run fifth and another insurance run in the top of the seventh to cruise to the 10-4 victory. RBI singles from Olivia Burroughs (Escondido, CA/San Pasqual) and Maddie Luedtke (Gibbstown, NJ/Gloucester County Institute of Technology) plated the first two runs, before Niegocki's two-run double scored them both for a 9-4 lead. Niegocki's second RBI double of the game scored Laneya Wright (Tucson, AZ/Marana) with the Broncs' 10^th run of the game.

Quotes & Notes
"I love how we came out the gate fired up and swinging. So many people contributed to this team win and I'm excited to see how that momentum carries us into day two." – Rider Head Coach Davon Ortega

- Merrill was credited with the win in the circle, pitching 3.2 innings of three-hit, two-walk, scoreless ball. She struck out three.
- Groskritz started in the circle and allowed four earned runs on five hits, a walk and a hit-by-pitch. She struck out five over 3.1 innings pitched in her return after missing the entire 2023 season due to injury.
- Rider won its season opener for the first time since March 2, 2004, when it defeated Penn in Game 1 of a doubleheader split in Lawrenceville.

Broncs by the Numbers
- The Broncs' offense accounted for 10 runs on 13 hits, including four doubles.
- Reda-Fehsal doubled, had two singles and walked in the first four plate appearances of her collegiate career. She scored a run and drove in one.
- Niegocki doubled twice and drove in three. She also reached on a walk.
- Merrill went 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored.
- Six other Broncs – Bell, Harsche, Burroughs, Stoeckel, Dyer and Luedtke had one hit each.
- Harsche, Burroughs and Luedtke each drove in and scored a run.
- Bell, Abby Cruz (Corona, CA/Santiago), Kristyn Gardner (Perryville, MD/Perryville) and Wright each scored a run.
- Stoeckel and Dyer contributed one RBI each.

Up Next
The Broncs continue Pirate Invitational play Saturday, when they again face NCCU at 10 a.m., followed by a 12:30 p.m. first pitch vs. host East Carolina. The ECU game will be broadcast live on ESPN+.