NEW BRITAIN, CT – Fallyn Stoeckel (Nutley, NJ/Nutley) led the Broncs with four hits and two RBI's and Anna-Marie Groskritz (Granby, CT/Granby Memorial) struck out 10 in a Game 1 victory as the Rider University softball team split a non-conference doubleheader at Central Connecticut Tuesday afternoon. The Broncs (3-9) took Game 1, 2-1, before dropping Game 2, 5-4.

The Broncs opened the scoring in the second inning of Game 1, with Maddie Luedtke (Gibbstown, NJ/Gloucester County Institute of Technology) leading off with a single, stealing two bases and scoring on a throwing error on the second. The Broncs tacked on another run in the sixth as Emma Morgan (Mechanicsburg, PA/Cumberland Valley) singled with one out, moved to second on a groundout. Kiersten Buchanan (Holly Springs, NC/Holly Springs) followed with an infield single and Morgan scored on an error on the play to make it 2-0 Rider. The Blue Devils got a solo home run to lead off the seventh, but that was all that Groskritz would surrender in the complete-game victory.

In Game 2, CCSU opened the scoring with a two-out RBI single in the second, before the Broncs evened the score in the third when Asiah Bell (Tucson, AZ/Canyon Del Oro [Central Ariz. Coll.]) doubled with one out and scored on Stoeckel's RBI single to left.  The Broncs took their first lead of the game in the fourth, as freshmen Aspen Wheeler (Lampasas, TX/Lampasas) and Morgan hit back-to-back doubles to lead off the frame.

Rider's lead extended to 3-1 in the fifth and then 4-2 in the sixth. Stoeckel singled and scored on Kendall Reda-Fehsal's (Succasunna, NJ/Roxbury) two-out RBI double in the fifth, before the Blue Devils got a run back in the bottom of the inning on a wild pitch. In the sixth, it was Kayley York (Telford, PA/Souderton Area) setting the table with a one-out double, before, before pinch runner Cami Johnson (Richland, NJ/Buena Regional) scored on a two-out RBI single from Stoeckel to make it 4-2 Broncs. But CCSU plated three runs in the bottom of the sixth to retake the lead for good. The damage came on a two-out RBI double, followed by a two-run home run. The Broncs put two runners on with one out in the top of the seventh, but CCSU pitcher Adrianna Green ended the game with a pair of strikeouts.  

- Groskritz picked up the Game 1 win, allowing just one earned run on three hits and three walks, striking out a season-high 10 batters over the full 7.0 innings.
- Stoeckel started Game 2 in the circle and pitched the first 2.0 innings. She allowed one earned run on three hits and a walk.
- Kathryn Schmierer (Racine, WI/Racine Lutheran) came on in relief and pitched the final 4.0 innings. She took the loss, allowing four earned runs on six hits, an HBP and a walk, striking out one.

Broncs by the Numbers
- Stoeckel went 4-for-7 with four singles, a walk, two RBI's and a run scored.
- Reda-Fehsal added a 3-for-5 effort with a double, a walk, a stolen base and an RBI.
- Luedtke added a 3-for-8 afternoon with two stolen bases and a run scored.
- Morgan contributed a 2-for-4 day with a double, an RBI and a run scored. The hits, one in each game, were the first of her collegiate career.
- Noelle Flail (Woolwich, NJ/Kingway Regional) singled in her only at bat for her first collegiate hit.
- Wheeler contributed a double, a walk and a run scored.
- York chipped in with a double.
- Buchanan singled and walked twice.
- Bell contributed a double and a run scored.
- Kristyn Gardner (Perryville, MD/Perryville) reached twice on walks.
- Johnson scored as a pinch runner in Game 2.  

Up Next
The Broncs return to action Friday, when they open play at the Hail Southern Classic, hosted by Georgia Southern. Rider faces Maryland (12 p.m.) and the host Eagles (5:30 p.m.) on Friday.