PRINCETON, NJ – The Rider University softball team split a double header Thursday night, defeating Princeton 4-3 in game one, before falling 8-7 in game two. The Broncs move to 9-13 on the season, while the Tigers are now 10-9 on the year.
 
With one out in the first, Keegan St. Cyr (Hopkinton, NH/Hopkinton), Maddie Luedtke (Gibbstown, NJ/Gloucester County Institute of Technology), and Abby Cruz (Corona, CA/Santiago) had three-straight singles to load the bases. With two away and the bases still loaded, Kendall Reda-Fehsal (Succasunna, NJ/Roxbury) ripped a bases-clearing double over the head of the Tigers' center fielder. Gabi Rodriguez (Chula Vista, CA/Olympian) then singled to drive in Reda-Fehsal giving the Broncs the 4-0 lead.
 
Princeton got a run back in the first, third, and fifth, all while keeping the Broncs off the board. In the sixth, the Tigers threatened, but a diving catch by Aspen Wheeler (Lampasas, TX/Lampasas) at third and a cannon to plate on a single to get a runner in a rundown between the plate and third base by St. Cyr got the Broncs out of the inning without allowing a run. Princeton got a two-out single in the seventh, but Rider induced a fly out to close out the victory in the opening game of the contest.
 
In game two of the double headers, the pitchers were in control early, keeping the game scoreless into the bottom of the third, when a single, followed by a stolen base, and a double by the Tiger gave Princeton an early 1-0 lead.
 
The Broncs responded quickly in the top of the fourth. Fallyn Stoeckel (Nutley, NJ/Nutley) drew a one-out walk, followed by a single back up the middle from Kiersten Buchanan (Holly Springs, NC/Holly Springs). With two away, Shelby Dyer (Clarksboro, NJ/Kingsway Regional) drew a walk to load the bases, and Wheeler walked to force in a run. The tie would be short-lived with the Tigers getting a run in the bottom of the fourth.
 
Rider quickly tied the game in the top of the fifth, with Luedtke crushing a pitch over the wall in straight-away center. Reda-Fehsal followed with a single. With one out, Stoeckel and Buchanan drew walks to load the bases. Cruz came in as a pinch hitter and cleared the bases with a double, then with two away, Wheeler delivered an RBI triple to put the Broncs up 6-2. In the seventh, Buchanan drew a one-out walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and came in to score on a base hit by Melissa Purcella (Albuquerque, NM/Albequerque Academy), extending the lead to 7-2.
 
Princeton fired back in the bottom of the seventh, plating five runs with just one out recorded in the inning, tying the score 7-7. The Broncs induced a ground out, but with a runner on third and two away, the Tigers got the walk-off hit to secure the double header split.
 
Quotes & Notes
"I liked how we hit the ball as usual. Our hitting has been doing a lot of good things, but the days of being satisfied with a split are over. We have to find ways to put te foot down and put a team away. There's no reason that should've happened. We need to figure out how to win games. Gabi was spinning the ball, keeping them off balance, and she went out with the attitude that she knew she needed to shut it down." – Head Coach Davon Ortega
 
"I was happy we started early. I knew the team needed that, and then Gabi drove me in, so it was even better that we were able to continue that run. I wasn't trying to think about where they were pitching me, I was just trying to react, because I've been in my head a lot lately. It's a good win. We always battle with them, but to actually show up, take the first game, and almost take the second, it was a statement because they are a big program and a good team." – Junior First Baseman Kendall Reda-Fehsal
 
- Rodriguez started game one, throwing all seven innings, allowing three runs, two earned, and striking out six to earn the victory.
- Stoeckel got the start in the circle in game two, throwing 6.1 innings, allowing eight runs on 13 hits, taking the loss.
- Luedtke's home run is her fourth of the season and 11^th of her career.
 
Broncs By The Numbers
- Reda-Fehsal led Rider with four hits on the day.
- St. Cyr, Cruz and Wheeler added three hits each across the double header.
- Luedtke and Purcella each finished with a pair of hits.
- Rodriguez, Stoeckel, Buchanan, and Dyer all recorded a hit.
- Stoeckel, Buchanan, Luedtke, and Reda-Fehsal each scored twice twice on the day.
- Reda-Fehsal and Cruz both delivered three RBIs to lead the Broncs across the double header.
 
Up Next
The Broncs return home Saturday, hosting Army for a double header, beginning at noon.