NEW ROCHELLE, NY – Maddie Luedtke (Gibbstown, NJ/Gloucester County Institute of Technology) had a pair of hits and a run scored, but the Rider University softball team fell in the series finale at Iona, 3-1, Wednesday afternoon. With the loss, the Broncs fall to 12-21 (5-4 MAAC), while the Gaels take two of three in the series to improve to 12-18 (9-3 MAAC).

After three scoreless frames, the Gaels scored twice in the bottom of the fourth. The damage was done on a Mary Jane Nicholson RBI single and a one-out RBI double from Brianna Bailey to make it 2-0 Iona after four. The Broncs got a run back in the top of the sixth, as Luedtke singled, stole second, moved to third on a Kendall Reda-Fehsal (Succasunna, NJ/Roxbury) sacrifice bunt and scored on a Kristyn Gardner (Perryville, MD/Perryville) sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to 2-1.

But Iona tacked on an insurance run on consecutive base hits and a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the sixth and retired the Broncs in order in the top of the seventh to end the game.
 
Notes
- Anna-Marie Groskritz (Granby, CT/Granby Memorial) started in the circle and took the loss, allowing two earned runs on four hits and a walk in 3.0-plus innings. She struck out four.
- Fallyn Stoeckel (Nutley, NJ/Nutley) pitched 1.0 clean inning of relief.
- Kathryn Schmierer (Racine, WI/Racine Lutheran) pitched 2.0 innings of relief, allowing one earned run on four hits and a walk. She struck out three.

Broncs by the Numbers
- Luedtke went 2-for-3 with a pair of singles, a stolen base and a run scored.
- Gardner drove in the Broncs' lone run with a sacrifice fly. She also reached on a hit-by-pitch.  
- Stoeckel, Tristen Wren (Rancho Cucamonga, CA/Etiwanda) and Kiersten Buchanan (Holly Springs, NC/Holly Springs) had one hit apiece.

Up Next
The Broncs return to action Saturday, when they open a three-game MAAC set against Siena. First pitch of the Saturday doubleheader is scheduled for noon at Herb & Joan Young Field.