NORFOLK, VA – The Rider University softball team closed out competition at the Norfolk State Tournament Sunday, falling 5-3 to Central Connecticut State. The Broncs fall to 2-3 on the season, while the Blue Devils improve to 2-3.
 
After a scoreless top of the first, the Blue Devils led off the bottom of the first with a home run, then got one-out-two-run home run to extend the lead to 3-0.
 
The Broncs got a run back in the bottom of the second. Kendall Reda-Fehsal (Succasunna, NJ/Roxbury) was hit by a pitch with one out, then Emma Morgan (Mechanicsburg, PA/Cumberland Valley) delivered a two-out double to plate Reda-Fehsal.
 
Noelle Flail (Woolwich, NJ/Kingsway Regional) led off the third with a walk, then Maddie Luedtke (Gibbstown, NJ/Gloucester County Institute of Technology) followed with a single. Abby Cruz (Corona, CA/Santiago) continued her hot start to the season with a two-run double to tie the game.
 
Another solo home run by the Blue Devils to lead off the fourth gave CCSU the lead back at 4-3. The Broncs threatened in the fifth, getting runners to second and third with one-out, but the Blue Devils got out of the jam and got a two-out home run in the bottom of the fifth to extend the lead and the Broncs could not get a baserunner over the final two innings.
 
Quotes & Notes
- Rider's lead in the all-time series is cut to 10-6 over Central Connecticut State.
- Madison Moran (Lafayette Hill, PA/Plymouth Whitemarsh) got the start before ceding the game to Gabi Rodriguez (Chula Vista, CA/Olympian) who threw the final 5.2 innings, allowing two runs in just three hits. She struck out one, taking the loss.
 
Broncs By The Numbers
- Cruz led the Broncs with her pair of hits, recording multiple hits for the third time this season.
- Flail, Luedtke, and Morgan each added a hit.
 
Up Next
Rider heads to the Tar Heel Invitational for five games across three days, beginning with a stand alone contest against the host University of North Carolina Friday at 3 p.m.