RIVERDALE, NY – Jadeyn Merrill (Lamesa, TX/Lamesa) had two hits and two RBI's as the Rider University softball team defeated Manhattan, 3-2, in the series finale Saturday afternoon at Gaelic Park. With the win, the Broncs (11-19, 4-2 MAAC) took the rubber match of the three-game series with the Jaspers (5-27, 2-6 MAAC).

Jessie Niegocki (Marana, AZ/Mountain View) got the start in the circle and held the Jaspers off the scoreboard with 4.0 scoreless innings, limiting Manhattan to two hits and a walk. But Jaspers starting pitcher Mollie Charest matched Niegocki's four scoreless frames and each team's relief pitcher sent the game to the sixth still scoreless.

Kristyn Gardner (Perryville, MD/Perryville) broke the deadlock with a solo shot to lead off the sixth and the Broncs plated two more in the top of the seventh. A Maddie Luedtke (Gibbstown, NJ/Gloucester County Institute of Technology) single, a Kendall Reda-Fehsal (Succasunna, NJ/Roxbury) hit-by-pitch and a Gardner walk loaded the bases with one out. Merrill followed with a two-run single to stake the Broncs to a 3-0 lead. The insurance would come in handy as the Jaspers began the bottom of the seventh with a walk and a two-run home run from Sophia Kiseloski. But Anna-Marie Groskritz (Granby, CT/Granby) then came on in the circle to record the next three outs in order for the save.
 
Notes
- Niegocki started the game in the circle and pitched 4.0 scoreless innings, limiting the Jaspers to two hits and a walk, while striking out four.
- Fallyn Stoeckel (Nutley, NJ/Nutley) picked up her second win of the series with 2.0-plus innings of relief. She allowed two earned runs on two hits and a walk.
- Groskritz earned her first career save with three-consecutive outs, including a pair of strikeouts, to cap the bottom of the seventh.
- Rider has now taken 2-of-3 in each of its two conference series so far this year.

Broncs by the Numbers
- Four Broncs – Merrill, Luedtke, Gardner and Kiersten Buchanan (Holly Springs, NC/Holly Springs) – had two hits apiece.
- Merrill had a pair of singles and two RBI's.
- Gardner, doubled, homered and walked to reach safely three times.
- Buchanan had a single and a double.
- Luedtke singled twice and scored a run.
- Tristen Wren (Rancho Cucamonga, CA/Etiwanda) singled and walked.
- Olivia Smith (Freehold, NJ/Freehold Township) scored a run as a pinch runner.

Up Next
The Broncs return to action Tuesday, when they begin a three-game MAAC set at Iona. First pitch of the Tuesday twinbill is set for noon in New Rochelle, NY.