RIVERDALE, NY – Fallyn Stoeckel (Nutley, NJ/Nutley) went 3-for-3 with a homer while pitching a complete game without allowing an earned run in Game 2 as the Rider University softball team split the first two games of a three-game set at Manhattan Friday afternoon. Manhattan pulled out a 3-2 win in eight innings in Game 1, before the Broncs got even with a 5-3 win in Game 2. With the split, the Broncs move to 10-19 (3-2 MAAC), while the Jaspers are now 5-26 (2-6 MAAC).

Kristyn Gardner (Perryville, MD/Perryville) put Rider on top with a solo home run in the top of the third in Game 1, before the Jaspers evened the score on a two-out RBI single from Gabriella Mazzotta in the bottom of the fourth. Rider would again retake the lead, this time in the top of the sixth as Maddie Luedtke (Gibbstown, NJ/Gloucester County Institute of Technology) led off with a triple and Kiersten Buchanan (Holly Springs, NC/Holly Springs) immediately followed with a double. Buchanan would move to third on a groundout, but would be stranded there as the Broncs settled for the 2-1 lead. The Broncs came within an out of securing the Game 1 victory, but Maddy Weir homered with two out in the seventh to tie the game. The Jaspers then claimed the win with a single, sacrifice bunt and a walk-off RBI single from Kaitlyn Flood in the bottom of the eighth.

In Game 2, the Broncs built a 4-0 lead with single runs in the second and third and a pair of tallies in the fifth. Kendall Reda-Fehsal (Succasunna, NJ/Roxbury) and Stoeckel hit solo homers in the second and third, respectively, while Luedtke blasted a two-run shot, scoring Stoeckel in the fifth. Manhattan took advantage of an error in the bottom of the sixth, loading the bases with one out. But Stoeckel limited the damage to a sacrifice fly, keeping the advantage at 4-1 after six. Rider tacked on an insurance run on Luedtke's RBI single in the top of the seventh to make it 5-1. An error on what would've been the final out of the game allowed Manhattan to score twice more. But Stoeckel held the Jaspers to two in the bottom of the seventh to close out the victory.
 
Notes
- Anna-Marie Groskritz (Granby, CT/Granby) started Game 1 in the circle and went 4.0 innings, allowing one earned run on four hits and four walks, while striking out three. She took a no decision.
- Kathryn Schmierer (Racine, WI/Racine Lutheran) pitched 3.1 innings of relief and took the loss. She allowed two earned runs on three hits and a walk, striking out two.
- Stoeckel earned the Game 2 win, allowing three unearned runs on eight hits, two walks and a hit-by-pitch over 7.0 innings. She struck out two.

Broncs by the Numbers
- Stoeckel went 3-for-3 with a solo home run and two runs scored in Game 2.
- Luedtke went 3-for-7 a triple, a home run, three RBI's and two runs scored on the day. The home run was her fourth of the year, tied with Reda-Fehsal for the team lead.
- Reda-Fehsal added a pair of hits, including a solo home run.
- Buchanan also chipped in with two hits, including an RBI double.
- Abby Cruz (Santiago, CA/Corona) and Shelby Dyer (Clarksboro, NJ/Kingsway Regional) both went 1-for-3 on the day.
- Gardner contributed her second home run of the year.
- Jessie Niegocki (Marana, AZ/Mountain View) also had a hit.
- Julia Harsche (Staten Island, NY/St. Joseph-by-the-Sea) scored a run.
- Olivia Burroughs (Escondido, CA/San Pasqual) reached three times, all on walks.

Up Next
The Broncs wrap up their three-game set at Manhattan tomorrow with a single game at 3 p.m.