GREENVILLE, NC – Jadeyn Merrill (Lamesa, TX/Lamesa) and Tristen Wren (Rancho Cucamonga, CA/Etiwanda) each delivered two-run singles as the Rider University softball team defeated North Carolina Central University, 5-1, at the Pirate Invitational Saturday. The win improved Rider to 2-0 for the first time since 2001, while the Eagles fell to 4-8. Rider would later fall to host East Carolina, 9-1, in five innings to fall to 2-1. ECU improved to 13-1.

Against NCCU, the Broncs struck first in the bottom of the second. Rider loaded the bases on singles from Kristyn Gardner (Perryville, MD/Perryville) and Maddie Luedtke (Gibbstown, NJ/Gloucester County Institute of Technology) and a one-out walk from Kiersten Buchanan (Holly Springs, NC/Holly Springs). Gardner would score on an error on a fielder's choice.

The Broncs tacked on four more with a two-out rally in the fourth to make it a 5-0 Rider lead. Julia Harsche (Staten Island, NY/St. Joseph-by-the-Sea) singled, Shelby Dyer (Clarksboro, NJ/Kingsway Regional) walked and Jessie Niegocki (Marana, AZ/Mountain View) reached on an error to load the bases, before Wren and Merrill delivered consecutive two-run singles. Broncs starting pitcher Kathryn Schmierer (Racine, WI/Racine Lutheran) would limit the Eagles to just one unearned run in the sixth and closed out the complete-game victory.   

Against ECU, the Pirates struck first on a soft line drive off the shortstop's glove to take a 1-0 lead in the second. Ruled an infield single, it followed a throwing error to allow the runner to advance an extra base and went as an unearned run. Another error to lead off the bottom of the third resulted in four more unearned runs and a 5-0 Pirates lead after three. ECU added three more runs in the bottom of the fourth on three hits, a walk and a hit-by-pitch to push its lead to 8-0 after four.

In the top of the fifth, Niegocki's two-out flare to the 5-6 hole dropped in and was initially bobbled by the shortstop and ruled an error despite Niegocki beating the throw by four strides. Wren followed with an RBI triple to left center and get the Broncs on the board. In the bottom of the frame, ECU struck for a one-out double, followed by an RBI single to go ahead, 9-1, enacting the mercy rule.

Notes
- Schmierer went the distance in the win over NCCU, allowing just one unearned run on two hits and two walks, striking out four in 7.0 innings pitched.
 - Fallyn Stoeckel (Nutley, NJ/Nutley) started the ECU game and took the loss, allowing eight runs, three earned, on 10 hits and a walk over 3.1 innings pitched. She struck out one.
- Niegocki pitched 1.1 innings of relief, allowing one earned run on three hits and two walks, striking out one.
- Rider moved to 2-0 for the first time since the 2001 season.

Broncs by the Numbers
- Merrill led the Broncs' offense against NCCU with a 2-for-2 effort with two singles, a hit-by-pitch and two RBI's.
- Gardner added a pair of singles and a run scored against the Eagles.
- Wren had a pair of run-scoring hits on the day with a two-run single against NCCU and an RBI double against ECU. She also scored a run in the first game.
- Niegocki had a hit and a run scored in each game.
- Harsche singled and scored a run vs. NCCU.
- Luedtke added a hit vs. NCCU.
- Abby Cruz (Corona, CA/Santiago) also picked up her first hit as a Bronc in the ECU game.

Up Next
The Broncs wrap up play at the Pirate Invitational Sunday, when they play consecutive games against Towson. First pitch of the first game is scheduled for 10 a.m.