SOUTH ORANGE, NJ – Shea Johnson (Carlsbad, CA/Cathedral Catholic) and Fallyn Stoeckel (Nutley, NJ/Nutley) had three hits each, but the Rider University softball team was defeated at Seton Hall, 7-4 and 4-2, in a Wednesday doubleheader. With the losses, the Broncs fall to 6-17, while the Pirates improve to 15-10.

After a scoreless top of the first in Game 1, Seton Hall struck for four runs in the bottom of the frame. A hit-by-pitch and consecutive doubles gave the Pirates their first two runs, before Broncs starting pitcher Kathryn Schmierer (Racine, WI/Racine Lutheran) settled and retired the next two batters. But a pair of walks loaded the bases with two out, followed by a hit by pitch and a single, each of which scored another run to give Seton Hall a 4-0 lead after one.

Rider cut the deficit in half with two runs in the second. Kendall Reda-Fehsal (Succasunna, NJ/Roxbury) hit an infield single and Olivia Burroughs (Escondido, CA/San Pasqual) walked before both runners scored on Johnson's two-out, two-run triple to make it 4-2 Pirates. Rider further trimmed the lead to 4-3 in the third. Kristyn Gardner (Perryville, MD/Perryville) and Abby Cruz (Corona, CA/Santiago) each walked, before Reda-Fehsal delivered an RBI single to left center. Seton Hall responded in the bottom of the third with a one-out triple and a pair of two-out, run-scoring singles to push its lead back to 7-3 after three.

Pitching was the story the rest of the Game 2. Schmierer held Seton Hall without a hit over the final three frames, while the Broncs managed one more run on a pair of seventh-inning hits. Fallyn Stoeckel (Nutley, NJ/Nutley) led off the top of the seventh with an infield single and a run scored on Cruz's two-out RBI double. But Seton Hall secured the 7-4 victory.

After Seton Hall opened the Game 2 scoring with a solo home run in the bottom of the first, the Broncs answered with a Gardner solo shot in the top of the third to tie the game at 1-1. Seton Hall loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the fourth. An error extended the inning and gave the Pirates a 2-1 lead, but Broncs starting pitcher Gabi Rodriguez (Chula Vista, CA/Olympian) escaped any further damage, getting a strikeout and a pop out. The Pirates tacked two more runs on a homer in the fifth to make it 4-1. Rider got a run back in the top of the sixth on a two-out RBI triple from Noelle Flail (Woolwich, NJ/Kingway Regional). But the Broncs could draw on closer as the Pirates closed out the doubleheader sweep.

Notes
- Schmierer went the distance in Game 1, allowing seven runs, six earned, on seven hits, four walks and two HBP's. She struck out one over 6.0 innings pitched.
- Rodriguez also pitched a complete game in Game 2, allowing four earned runs on five hits, a walk and a HBP over 6.0 innings. She struck out two.  

Broncs by the Numbers
- Olivia Burroughs (Escondido, CA/San Pasqual) went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored. Burroughs collected the 100^th hit of her collegiate career in Game 2. Burroughs also walked twice.
- Johnson went 3-for-7 with a double, a triple and two RBI's.
- Stoeckel went 3-for-8 with three singles.  
- Reda-Fehsal added two hits, two runs scoed and an RBI.
- Aspen Wheeler (Lampasas, TX/Lampasas) doubled and scored a run.
- Flail contributed an RBI triple.
- Cruz hit an RBI double.
- Gardner's solo home run was her first of the year.
- Cruz and Gardner walked once each.
- Cami Johnson (Richland, NJ/Buena Regional) scored a run as a pinch runner in Game 1.

Up Next
The Broncs return to action Saturday, when they host Sacred Heart in a doubleheader to begin a three-game set for their home and conference openers. First pitch from Herb and Joan Young Field is scheduled for noon.