WILMINGTON, NC – Maddie Luedtke (Gibbstown, NJ/Gloucester County Institute of Technology) went 3-for-3 with three stolen bases and three runs scored and Anna-Marie Groskritz (Granby, CT/Granby Memorial) hurled a complete-game, three-hit shutout, striking out 10 as the Rider University softball team opened 2025 with a 7-0 win over UMass at the UNC Wilmington Tournament. The Broncs went on to fall in their second game of the day against DePaul, 6-1, moving to 1-1 on the young season.

After a scoreless first, the Broncs struck for four runs in the bottom of the second against UMass. Luedtke singled, stole two bases and scored on an Olivia Burroughs (Escondido, CA/San Pasqual) single. After two groundouts pushed Burroughs to third, the Broncs got three-straight RBI base hits from Abby Cruz (Corona, CA/Santiago), Shelby Dyer (Clarksboro, NJ/Kingsway Regional) and Fallyn Stoeckel (Nutley, NJ/Nutley) to provide Groskritz with all the support she'd need.

The Broncs tacked on another run in the third as Luedtke again singled, stole her third base, took third on a wild pitch and scored on an Emma Morgan (Mechanicsburg, PA/Cumberland Valley) fielder's choice. In the fifth, Luedtke made it a 3-for-3 effort with a leadoff double and scored on a Burroughs single. Cruz later delivered a two-out RBI single to score pinch runner Cami Johnson (Richland, NJ/Buena Regional) to make it a 7-0 advantage. Groskritz did the rest, limiting the Minutewomen to just three hits and two walks, while striking out 10 in the complete-game shutout.

Against DePaul, the Broncs immediately scored a run, with Luedtke hitting an RBI double to score Kendall Reda-Fehsal (Succasunna, NJ/Roxbury). But the single tally was all the Broncs' offense could piece together against the Blue Demons. DePaul scored three unearned runs in the bottom of the first, added two more in the fourth and a single run in the sixth to take the 6-1 victory.

Notes
- Groskritz earned the win against UMass, hurling 7.0 shutout innings, while allowing just three hits and two walks, striking out 10.
- Kathryn Schmierer (Racine, WI/Racine Lutheran) started the DePaul game in the circle and took the loss. She allowed five runs, two earned, on four hits and two walks, while striking out three.
- Stoeckel pitched 2.2 innings of relief against the Blue Demons, allowing one earned run on two hits, while striking out two.
- Rider won its season opener for the second-straight year after having not accomplished the feat in nearly 20 years prior (2004).
- Aspen Wheeler (Lampasas, TX/Lampasas), Kayley York (Telford, PA/Souderton Area), Cami Johnson (Richland, NJ/Buena Regional), Shea Johnson (Carlsbad, CA/Cathedral Catholic), Vaye Savage (Midland, TX/Greenwood [Salem C.C.]), Gabi Rodriguez (Chula Vista, CA/Olympian), Noelle Flail (Woolwich, NJ/Kingway Regional) and Ceara O'Neal (Hamilton Square, NJ/Steinert) each made their Rider debuts on the day.

Broncs by the Numbers
- Luedtke led the Broncs offensively with a 4-for-6 effort with two doubles, three stole bases, three runs scored and an RBI.
- Stoeckel added a 4-for-7 performance with an RBI.
- Burroughs, Cruz and Kiersten Buchanan (Holly Springs, NC/Holly Springs) had two hits apiece. Burroughs and Cruz also contributed two RBI's and a run scored apiece.
- Dyer added an RBI double and a run scored.
- Reda-Fehsal and Cami Johnson also scored one run each.
- Morgan drove in one run.  

Up Next
The Broncs return to UNC Wilmington Tournament action Saturday, when they again face DePaul (10 a.m.) and UMass (12:30 p.m.).