LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – Kiersten Buchanan (Holly Springs, NC/Holly Springs) had a team-high five hits and drove in three and Kendall Reda-Fehsal (Succasunna, NJ/Roxbury) and Kristyn Gardner (Perryville, MD/Perryville) had four RBI's apiece as the Rider University softball team swept a MAAC doubleheader from Mount St. Mary's, 8-0 (6 inn.) and 6-4, Tuesday afternoon at Herb & Joan Young Field. With the sweep, the Broncs (19-24, 11-6 MAAC) have won six-straight, while the Mountaineers fall to 10-27, 3-13 MAAC).

The Broncs immediately struck for four runs in the bottom of the first and would score eight unanswered to cut Game 1 to six innings. Fallyn Stoeckel (Nutley, NJ/Nutley) got things started with an RBI double, before Kristyn Gardner (Perryville, MD/Perryville) plated another with a single and Kendall Reda-Fehsal (Succasunna, NJ/Roxbury) capped the first-inning scoring with a two-run single. After three scoreless frames, Buchanan delivered an RBI double in the fifth to make it 5-0. An inning later, Gardner's two-run double pushed the Broncs' lead to 7-0, before Buchanan walked it off for the second-straight game with an RBI single up the middle.

In Game 2, the Mountaineers pushed across their first run of the day in the top of the first with a leadoff double, a sacrifice bunt and an error. The Broncs answered with two unearned runs in the bottom of the frame. An error prolonged the inning and loaded the bases for Reda-Fehsal, who dunked in an RBI single to tie the game, before a wild pitch pushed a second Rider run across to make it 2-1 Broncs after one.

The Mount tied the game in the top of the second on a failed pickoff followed a squeeze bunt attempt that was missed. The Broncs had the runner picked off third, but couldn't complete the rundown, with Zoe Truxon scoring ahead of the throw home. The Mountaineers would then plate two more in the frame on RBI singles to push their lead to 4-2. Rider got a run back in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI double from Abby Cruz (Corona, CA/Santiago) to score Olivia Burroughs (Escondido, CA/San Pasqual), who'd singled with one out.

The Broncs then drew even in the fifth. Luedtke was the beneficiary of a dropped pop-up on the infield and came around to score on a Reda-Fehsal double off the left field wall to tie the game at 4-4 after five. Rider then took its first lead of the game in the bottom of the sixth, loading the bases with no outs, before a run-scoring fielder's choice from Gardner, scoring Jessie Niegocki (Marana, AZ/Mountain View), who'd doubled to lead off the inning. Buchanan then gave the Broncs an insurance run on an RBI single up the middle, scoring Luedtke, to make it 6-4. Groskritz set down the Mountaineers in order in the top of the seventh to close out the victory.

Notes
- Niegocki went the distance in Game 1, pitching a complete-game, one-hit shutout. She struck out eight and walked two over 6.0 innings.
- Stoeckel started Game 2 and gave up one unearned run on one hit, a hit-by-pitch and an error in a third of an inning pitched.
- Groskritz pitched 6.2 innings of relief to earn the victory in Game 2. She allowed three earned runs on four hits, four walks and a hit-by-pitch, striking out eight.

Broncs by the Numbers
- Buchanan went 5-for-8 on the day with two doubles, three RBI's and a run scored.
- Stoeckel reached base safely four times on three hits, including a double, and a walk. She also twice successfully sacrifice bunted.
- Niegocki went 4-for-7 with a pair of doubles, a walk and a team-high four runs scored.
- Reda-Fehsal went 4-for-7 with a double and four RBI's.
- Gardner went 3-for-8 with a double, four RBI's and a run scored.
- Cruz doubled and drove in a run.
- Burroughs singled, walked and scored a run.
- Luedtke singled, walked and scored three runs.
- Laneya Wright (Tucson, AZ/Marana) also added a single.
- Asiah Bell (Tucson, AZ/Canyon Del Oro [Central Ariz. Coll.]) and Olivia Smith (Freehold, NJ/Freehold Township) both scored a run in Game 1.

Up Next
The Broncs and Mountaineers wrap up their three-game set with a single game Wednesday at 2 p.m. from Herb & Joan Young Field.