LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – Anna-Marie Groskritz (Granby, CT/Granby Memorial) struck out a career-high 11 batters in a Game 1 win and slammed the door with her first save of the season in Game 2 as the Rider University softball team swept a Sunday doubleheader from Merrimack, 2-1 and 6-5, at Herb and Joan Young Field. With the wins, the Broncs have won a season-high four in a row to improve to 13-26 (7-7 MAAC), while the Warriors fall to 7-22 (4-8 MAAC).

Merrimack got on the board first in Game 1 with a single run on an RBI bloop single in the top of the third. But that was all Groskritz would allow the Warrior offense in the game. The Broncs scored their two runs in the bottom of the fourth, as Kendall Reda-Fehsal (Succasunna, NJ/Roxbury) delivered a two-out, two-run single up the middle to score pinch runner Cami Johnson (Richland, NJ/Buena Regional) and Aspen Wheeler (Lampasas, TX/Lampasas) with the tying and winning runs, respectively.

Rider got on the board first in Game 2 as Fallyn Stoeckel (Nutley, NJ/Nutley) and Kristyn Gardner (Perryville, MD/Perryville) reached on walks and Stoeckel advanced to third on a fly out for the second out. Wheeler then delivered a two-out RBI single to center to score Stoeckel and put the Broncs on top, 1-0, after one. Merrimack immediately evened the score at 1-1 when Caity Lemay led off the second with a solo shot to left.

The Warriors took the lead in the top of the third when Lemay took a 3-2, two-out offering over the right-field wall for a three-run home run and a 4-1 Merrimack lead. The Broncs got two runs back in the bottom of the fifth. Shea Johnson's (Carlsbad, CA/Cathedral Catholic) routine fly ball to right couldn't be handled, going for a three-base error. She'd then score on Vaye Savage's (Midland, TX/Greenwood [Salem C.C.]) first hit as a Bronc as the left and center fielders collided in the gap attempting to make the catch. After a walk loaded the bases, Abby Cruz (Corona, CA/Santiago) delivered a sacrifice fly to score Stoeckel, who'd reached earlier in the inning on a walk, to cut the deficit to 4-3.

Merrimack got one run back in the top of the sixth, putting runners on the corners with a pair of singles, before a successful squeeze bunt pushed to the advantage to 5-3 heading to the bottom of the sixth. But the Broncs scratched across three runs to take their first lead, 6-5, since 1-0 after the first inning. Noelle Flail (Woolwich, NJ/Kingway Regional) led off with a pinch-hit walk, before Reda-Fehsal doubled down the left-field line to score Olivia Burroughs (Escondido, CA/San Pasqual), who'd reentered on first base following the Flail walk. After a Shea Johnson walk put runners on first and second with no outs, Shelby Dyer (Clarksboro, NJ/Kingsway Regional) lined out to left. But the Warriors threw the ball away trying to double off the Rider runner from second, pushing Broncs base runners to second and third with one out. Stoeckel then singled home the tying and game-winning runs with a line drive down the left-field line.

Groskritz entered the circle in the seventh and worked a 1-2-3 frame with two strikeouts to close out the sweep.

Notes
- Groskritz allowed just one earned run on one hit, one walk and one hit batman over 7.0 innings pitched in Game 1. She struck out a career-high 11 batters, her second-straight outing with double-digit strikeouts, her fourth of the season and the fifth of her career. She then picked up her first save of the season with a 1-2-3 seventh in Game 2, including two more strikeouts.  
- Stoeckel picked up the win in Game 2, pitching 3.0 innings of one-run relief. She scattered four hits and struck out three without walking or hitting a batter.
- Kathryn Schmierer (Racine, WI/Racine Lutheran) started Game 2 in the circle and allowed four earned runs on nine hits and a hit batsman, striking out three over 3.0 innings.

Broncs by the Numbers
- Reda-Fehsal led the offensive with a 3-for-5 effort, including a double and three RBI's.
- Stoeckel added two hits, two runs and two RBI's. She also walked twice.
- Wheeler went 2-for-6 with an RBI and a run scored.
- Savage collected her first hit and RBI as a Bronc with a pinch-hit single in Game 2.
- Cruz singled and drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.
- Gardner singled and walked twice.
- Shea Johnson walked and scored twice.
- Cami Johnson scored twice as a pinch runner.
- Burroughs scored one run.

Up Next
The Broncs return to action Tuesday, when they host league-leading Marist for a MAAC doubleheader. First pitch of Game 1 from Herb and Joan Young Field is scheduled for 2 p.m.