LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – Fallyn Stoeckel (Nutley, NJ/Nutley) had four hits on the day and Kristyn Gardner (Perryville, MD/Perryville) drove in five, but the Rider University softball team was swept by Niagara, 6-4 and 7-5, Friday afternoon on Herb and Joan Young Field. With the losses, the Broncs fall to 18-30 (11-10 MAAC), while the Purple Eagles improved to 9-27 (6-13 MAAC).

Niagara made the Broncs pay for an error to lead off the game as Brianna Delaney hit a two-out, two-run to left to open the Game 1 scoring. The Broncs got an unearned run back in the bottom of the frame as a routine ground ball went through the legs of the Niagara shortstop, allowing Stoeckel to score from second base.

The Purple Eagles' Selah Moyer led off the second with another Niagara home run to push back to a two-run advantage, 3-1. Rider pulled to within a run, 3-2, on Gardner's two-out RBI single to score Shea Johnson (Carlsbad, CA/Cathedral Catholic) in the fifth, before Niagara got the run back in the top of the sixth on a two-out RBI single from Hailey Cenname. The Purple Eagles added a pair of insurance runs on solo home runs from Delaney and Moyer, both of their second home runs of the game, to push to a 6-2 lead.

Rider got two runs back in the bottom of the seventh on Gardner's two-run home run and put the tying runs on base after Abby Cruz (Corona, CA/Santiago) doubled and Kendall Reda-Fehsal (Succasunna, NJ/Roxbury) walked. But Siena reliever Sage Jackson settled down to record the final out.

In Game 2, the Broncs took a 2-0 lead in the first on an RBI double from Gardner and Cruz's RBI single. Stoeckel and Gardner scored on the plays. Niagara got one back in the second on a walk, a fielder's choice and an RBI single to cut the Broncs' lead to 2-1 after two. The Purple Eagles would take their first lead of the game, 3-2, in the top of the fourth on a two-run home run from Shayna Myshrall. Rider again tied the game on a pinch-hit RBI single from Kayley York (Telford, PA/Souderton Area) in the fourth. But Niagara would answer with a four-run top of the fifth to take a 7-3 lead. An RBI single gave the Purple Eagles the lead before the wheels come off for the Broncs on a single and two-base error, allowing two more runs to score. Niagara capped the scoring with a sacrifice fly.

Two singles, an error and a Gardner sacrifice fly plated a Rider run in the bottom of the sixth and Wheeler singled and scored on a wild pitch in the seventh to cut the deficit to 7-5. But Jackson again secured the save in Game 2.

Notes
- Anna-Marie Groskritz (Granby, CT/Granby Memorial) started in the circle and took the Game 1 loss, allowing six runs, four earned, on 10 hits and three walks. She struck out four.
- Kathryn Schmierer (Racine, WI/Racine Lutheran) went the distance in the Game 2 loss, allowing seven runs, six earned, on eight hits, two walks and an HBP. She struck out two.
- Gabi Rodriguez (Chula Vista, CA/Olympian) retired the only two batters she faced in relief in Game 1.

Broncs by the Numbers
- Stoeckel went 4-for-6 with a walk and three runs scored.
- Shelby Dyer (Clarksboro, NJ/Kingsway Regional) and Aspen Wheeler (Lampasas, TX/Lampasas) each had three hits and a run scored.
- Gardner went 3-for-7 with a double, a home run, five RBI's and two runs scored. Included in her production was the 100^th hit of her Rider career.
- Reda-Fehsal and Cruz chipped in with two hits each. Cruz doubled and drove in one, while Reda-Fehsal also doubled and scored a run.
- York singled and drove in one.
- Johnson singled and scored a run.
- Olivia Burroughs (Escondido, CA/San Pasqual) reached four times on the day on a single and three hit-by-pitches (all in Game 2).  

Up Next
The Broncs wrap up their three-game series with Niagara on Saturday at noon. Prior to the game, the Broncs will honor their six-member senior class on Senior Day.