LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – Jessie Niegocki (Marana, AZ/Mountain View) went 3-for-3 with three singles, a walk and two runs scored, but the Rider University softball team fell to Canisius, 5-3, in the final game of a three-game series at Herb and Joan Young Field Saturday afternoon. With the loss, the Broncs (9-18, 2-1 MAAC) settle for two of three from the Golden Griffins (8-12, 3-2 MAAC). For the game, Rider outhit Canisius, 11-4.

The Griffs immediately made Rider pay for first-inning walks, as two came aboard on free passes, followed by a Rosie Gomez three-run home run. The Broncs got one run back in the bottom of the inning on Jadeyn Merrill's (Lamesa, TX/Lamesa) RBI double to right center, scoring Niegocki, who'd singled to lead off the frame.

Rider would get another run in the bottom of the third. Niegocki walked, moved to second on a ground ball kicked away for an error and scored on Kendall Reda-Fehsal's (Succasunna, NJ/Roxbury) single to left center to cut Canisius' lead to 3-2 after three. But Canisius would again make a free pass hurt, as Gianna Fazzolari left the yard down the left-field line for a two-run home run in the top of the fifth to extend the Griffs' lead to 5-2.

The Broncs threatened in the fifth with runners on the corners and no one out, but couldn't scratch across a run. Rider pushed a run across in the bottom of the seventh, with Kiersten Buchanan (Holly Springs, NC/Holly Springs) singling home Olivia Smith (Freehold, NJ/Freehold Township), who pinch ran following Kristyn Gardner's (Perryville, MD/Perryville) leadoff single. The Broncs then brought the winning run to the plate following Olivia Burroughs' (Escondido, CA/San Pasqual) single to left. But Abby Cruz's (Corona, CA/Santiago) comebacker deflected off Canisius' pitcher Megan Geise's glove right to the second baseman, who made the throw in time for the final out at first.
 
Notes
- Merrill started the game in the circle and recorded one out on four batters faced in taking the loss. She walked two and allowed a three-run home run.
- Anna-Marie Groskritz (Granby, CT/Granby Memorial) pitched 4.0 innings of relief, allowing two earned runs on two hits, two walks and two hit-by-pitches. She struck out four.
- Fallyn Stoeckel (Nutley, NJ/Nutley) finished the game in the circle, going 2.2 scoreless innings, limiting Canisius to just one hit and one walk. She struck out two.   

Broncs by the Numbers
- Niegocki led the Broncs with a 3-for-3 effort with three singles, a walk and two runs scored.
- Coming on as a pinch hitter, Gardner went 2-for-2 with a single and a double.
- Reda-Fehsal also had two hits, going 2-for-4 with two singles and an RBI.
- Merrill went 1-for-2 with an RBI single.
- Buchanan reached twice, going 1-for-3 with a walk and an RBI single.
- Smith scored a run as a pinch runner in the seventh.
- Cruz reached twice on a single and a walk.
- Burroughs also contributed a hit.
- The Broncs outhit the Griffs, 11-4. But the Broncs issued seven free passes on five walks and two hit-by-pitches, with three of Canisius' five runs reaching on walks.

Up Next
The Broncs return to non-conference action Tuesday, when they travel to Delaware State. First pitch of the doubleheader from Dover, DE, is scheduled for 2 p.m.