LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – The Rider University softball team rallied for six runs in the bottom of the fifth of Game 1 to defeat league-leading Marist, 7-6, in Game 1 before settling for a split Tuesday afternoon at Herb and Joan Young Field. The Broncs (14-27, 8-8 MAAC) ran their winning streak to six games, before seeing it snapped by the Red Foxes (31-7-1, 7-2-1 MAAC) with a 4-0 decision in Game 2.

The Red Foxes jumped out to a 4-0 lead in Game 1. Miah McDonald hit a solo shot in the first and Marist added three more on three hits, an error and an ill-advised fielder's choice to take a 4-0 lead after two and a half innings. Rider got one back in the fourth with Kristyn Gardner (Perryville, MD/Perryville) leading off with a double and Abby Cruz (Corona, CA/Santiago) singling up the middle to score pinch runner Cami Johnson (Richland, NJ/Buena Regional).

The Broncs then erupted for six runs on six hits and two errors in the bottom of the fifth to take a 7-5 lead. Shea Johnson (Carlsbad, CA/Cathedral Catholic) got things started with a double to right center and runs scored on consecutive singles from Kiersten Buchanan (Holly Springs, NC/Holly Springs) and Gardner to make it 5-3, chasing Marist starting pitcher Kiley Myers, the NCAA Division I leader in ERA entering the day at 0.71, from the game. A play later, a hot shot to second on a drawn-in infield got through the legs of the Red Foxes' second baseman to score two more runs and tie the game at 5-5. Kendall Reda-Fehsal (Succasunna, NJ/Roxbury) then delivered the go-ahead two-run double to center to give the Broncs a two-run cushion.

The Red Foxes would get a solo home run from Maddie Pleasants to lead off the seventh and close to within a run. But Anna-Marie Groskritz (Granby, CT/Granby Memorial) settled down to get the next three batters on two groundouts and a lineout, closing out the 7-6 Game 1 victory.

In Game 2, the Red Foxes struck for a four-run top of the third, with a pair of two-run home runs from Sienna Kunze and McDonald. The four runs were the only tallies of the game.      

Notes
- Groskritz picked up her team-leading seventh win of the year in Game 1, allowing six runs, five earned, on eight hits and three walks. She struck out six.
- Kathryn Schmierer (Racine, WI/Racine Lutheran) started Game 2 and took the loss, allowing four earned runs on six hits and a hit-by-pitch over 2.2 innings. She struck out one.
- Gabi Rodriguez (Chula Vista, CA/Olympian) pitched 4.1 no-hit innings of relief, allowing just one walk. She struck out one.

Broncs by the Numbers
- Reda-Fehsal led the Broncs' offense with a 3-for-5 effort with two doubles, a walk and two RBI's.
- Gardner went 3-for-7 with two doubles, a run scored and an RBI.
- Cruz went 3-for-7 with a run scored and an RBI.
- Shelby Dyer (Clarksboro, NJ/Kingsway Regional) had two hits on the day, including a double, and scored a run. She also drew a walk.
- Buchanan, Shea Johnson and Fallyn Stoeckel (Nutley, NJ/Nutley) chipped in with one hit each. Buchanan and Johnson scored one run each, while Buchanan also had an RBI.
- Aspen Wheeler (Lampasas, TX/Lampasas) added a run scored and an RBI.

Up Next
The Broncs return to action Friday, when they begin a three-game MAAC series at Saint Peter's. The two teams are scheduled for a noon doubleheader Friday, before playing a single game Saturday, also at noon.