RIVERDALE, NY – Kristyn Gardner (Perryville, MD/Perryville) had four hits and five RBI's as the Rider University softball team swept a Friday road MAAC doubleheader at Manhattan, 4-0 and 7-5 (8 inn.). With the wins, the Broncs improve to 21-32 (14-10 MAAC), while the Jaspers fall to 10-34 (7-18 MAAC).

Gardner got the Broncs on the board in Game 1 with a solo home run in the fourth. Rider would then piece together a two-out rally in the fifth for two more runs. Shea Johnson (Carlsbad, CA/Cathedral Catholic) got things started, legging out an infield single, before scoring on Fallyn Stoeckel's (Nutley, NJ/Nutley) double to center. Shelby Dyer (Clarksboro, NJ/Kingsway Regional) capped the inning with a single up the middle to score Stoeckel. Dyer again delivered an insurance run in the top of the seventh, again plating Johnson. Johnson singled, stole second and scored on Dyer's single to right to make it 4-0.

The support was more than enough for Anna-Marie Groskritz (Granby, CT/Granby Memorial) in the circle, as she hurled her sixth complete-game shutout of the season, limiting Manhattan to just two hits, two walks and a hit by pitch.

The Jaspers struck first in Game 2 on a two-run double from Sophia Kiseloski in the bottom of the first. The Broncs evened the score at 2-2 on a two-run single from Gardner in the third, scoring Johnson and Stoeckel. Manhattan immediately retook the lead in the bottom of the third on two singles, a walk and a run-scoring fielder's choice.

The Broncs threatened in the top of the sixth, getting the leadoff batter on by way of an Abby Cruz (Corona, CA/Santiago) single. But after a sacrifice bunt and a flyout that advanced pinch runner Cami Johnson (Richland, NJ/Buena Regional) to third, the Jaspers escaped damage with a foul pop. In the bottom of the frame, Kiseloski struck again with a two-out, two-run double to right to push the Jaspers' lead to 5-2 after six.

But the Broncs weren't done. Two walks and an error loaded the bases before an out was recorded, before Dyer's groundout cut the deficit to 5-3, before Gardner delivered the game-tying two-run double. Groskritz, who entered in the circle in relief to begin the fourth inning, worked a 1-2-3 bottom of the seventh to send the game to extra innings.

In the eighth, the Broncs scored the go-ahead run as Olivia Burroughs (Escondido, CA/San Pasqual) led off with a single, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored on Shea Johnson's RBI single to left center, advancing to second on the throw home. Stoeckel gave the Broncs an insurance run with an RBI single to left. Groskritz did the rest, limiting Manhattan to one hit in the bottom of the eighth to close out the doubleheader sweep.

Notes
- Groskritz earned both wins on the day, allowing two earned runs over 12.0 innings pitched on six hits, four walks and two HBP's.  
- Kathryn Schmierer (Racine, WI/Racine Lutheran) started Game 2 but didn't get out of the first. She allowed two earned runs on a pair of doubles and a hit-by-pitch, recording one out.
- Gabi Rodriguez (Chula Vista, CA/Olympian) pitched 2.2 innings of relief, allowing one earned run on two hits and three walks.
- With Friday's results around the MAAC, the Broncs are locked into a seeding between Nos. 5 and 7 and a Tuesday opening-round game at the MAAC Championships, hosted by regular-season champion Marist. The 6-7 game will be played at 10 a.m. and the 5-8 game will follow at 12:30 p.m.
- The remaining results Saturday will determine the Nos. 5, 6 and 7 seeds. Either Canisius (15-10) or Rider (14-10) will be the No. 5 seed, with a Canisius win or Rider loss clinching the position for the Griffs. A Rider win and a Canisius loss would make Rider the No. 5 seed. 
- Quinnipiac (14-11) is locked into the 6-7 game. With a Rider loss, the Bobcats would take the head-to-head tiebreaker and be the No. 6 seed. With a Rider win and regardless of Canisius' result, the Bobcats would be the No. 7 seed. 
- Marist will be the top seed and Fairfield (18-7, .720), Iona (18-8, .692) and Siena (16-7-1, .688) taking the No. 2, 3 and 4 seeds, respectively.

Broncs by the Numbers
- Gardner went 4-for-9 with a double, a home run, five RBI's and a run scored.
- Cruz added a 3-for-5 effort in Game 2. She also drew a walk in Game 1.
- Stoeckel went 3-for-6 with a double, three walks, two RBI's and three runs scored.
- Shea Johnson contributed three hits, five runs scored and an RBI on the day.
- Dyer had two hits and three RBI's.
- Burroughs singled, was hit by a pitch and scored a run.
- Keegan St. Cyr (Hopkinton, NH/Hopkinton) delivered a pivotal pinch-hit walk and scored a run in the top of the seventh in Game 2.

Up Next
The Broncs wrap up the regular season Saturday with a single game at Manhattan at noon.