WEST POINT, NY – Kristyn Gardner (Perryville, MD/Perryville) homered twice, collected four hits and drove in five, but the Rider University softball team was edged twice in a doubleheader at Army West Point Wednesday afternoon, 6-3 and 5-3. With the losses, the Broncs fall to 8-20, while the Black Knights improve to 18-12.

The Black Knights took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first of Game 1, taking advantage of a walk and an error. Rider took its first lead of the game in the top of the third as Keegan St. Cyr (Hopkinton, NH/Hopkinton) led off with a bunt single and Kristyn Gardner (Perryville, MD/Perryville) followed with a two-out, two-run home run. Army tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the frame on three-straight one-out singles and a bases-loaded walk.

Army would take the lead for good with two runs in the bottom of the fourth. After a leadoff double, the go-ahead run came home on an error and another unearned tally came home on a two-out single. The Black Knights tacked on two more runs on an RBI triple and a run-scoring groundout in the fifth. A Gardner double and an Army error plated one Rider run in the sixth, but the Broncs could draw no closer.

In Game 2, the Black Knights took a 1-0 lead on an Ashton White home run in the bottom of the first. The lead swelled to 5-0 with a seven-straight Black Knights reaching safely and four runs scoring in the fourth. In the top of the fifth, after Fallyn Stoeckel (Nutley, NJ/Nutley) doubled and Shea Johnson (Carlsbad, CA/Cathedral Catholic) singled, Gardner knocked her second home run of the day, a three-run shot, to cut the deficit to 5-3. But the Broncs couldn't cut the deficit any more.

Notes
- Kathryn Schmierer (Racine, WI/Racine Lutheran) started Game 1 and took the loss. She allowed six runs, three earned, on 10 hits, four walks and an HBP over 6.0 innings pitched. She struck out one.
- Gabi Rodriguez (Chula Vista, CA/Olympian) went the distance in Game 2, allowing five earned runs on eight hits and two walks. She struck out two.

Broncs by the Numbers
- Gardner went 4-for-7 with a double, two home runs, five RBI's and two runs scored. The home runs were her team-leading third and fourth of the season.
- Shea Johnson and Abby Cruz (Corona, CA/Santiago) added three hits apiece. Johnson also stole a base and scored a run.
- Cami Johnson (Richland, NJ/Buena Regional) went 1-for-2 with a run scored.
- Stoeckel doubled and scored a run.
- Noelle Flail (Woolwich, NJ/Kingway Regional) singled, walked and drove in a run.
- St. Cyr also singled and walked.
- Shelby Dyer (Clarksboro, NJ/Kingsway Regional) scored a run.  
- Kiersten Buchanan (Holly Springs, NC/Holly Springs) reached on a walk.

Up Next
The Broncs return to action Saturday, when they play a league doubleheader at Quinnipiac. First pitch from Hamden, CT, is scheduled for 1 p.m.