NEW ROCHELLE, NY – The Rider University softball team earned a split on the opening day of MAAC play Saturday, falling at Iona, 5-4, before bouncing back to beat the Gaels, 5-1 in the second game of the double header. The Broncs are now 5-10 on the season and 1-1 in MAAC play. The Gaels are now 2-9 on the year, and an equal 1-1 in league games.
 
The Gaels got on the board first in the bottom of the first in game one, getting a two-out home run to take the early advantage. The Broncs fired back in the top of the third. Aspen Wheeler (Lampasas, TX/Lampasas) got the Broncs started with a one-out single. Fallyn Stoeckel (Nutley, NJ/Nutley) followed with a walk, then two batters later Abby Cruz (Corona, CA/Santiago) cracked a deep fly ball to left that carried over the fence to put the Broncs on top, 3-1.
 
In the fourth, it was another home run, a two-run shot from the Gaels that tied the game back up at three. The Gaels would get another run in the bottom of the fifth to take the lead. In the top of the seventh, Kiersten Buchanan (Holly Springs, NC/Holly Springs) led off the inning, reaching on an error, then down to their final out, Maddie Luedtke (Gibbstown, NJ/Gloucester County Institute of Technology) ripped a double to left to bring in the tying run. The Gaels would answer in the bottom of the seventh, getting the walk-off win on an RBI double of their own.
 
The Broncs responded quickly in game two. Wheeler led off the game with a single, then with one out, Luedtke drew a walk and Cruz followed with an RBI double. Luedtke would later score on an RBI ground out.
 
The score remained 2-0 into the sixth when Luedtke led off the inning with a double. Two batters later, Kendall Reda-Fehsal (Succasunna, NJ/Roxbury) ripped a triple to the gap in left center, then Emma Morgan (Mechanicsburg, PA/Cumberland Valley) followed with an RBI double. Gabi Rodriguez (Chula Vista, CA/Olympian) continued the rally with a single to score Morgan that pushed the lead to 5-0.
 
Iona got a homer to lead off the bottom of the sixth, but would get just a single base runner over the remainder of the final two innings.
 
Quotes & Notes
- Iona's lead in the all-time series is maintained at 35-27.
- Stoeckel got the start in the circle in game one, allowing five runs on eight hits. She struck out two taking the loss.
- Rodriguez started game two, allowing just one run on four hits. She struck out five to earn the win.
- Cruz' home run is her first of the season and seventh of her career.
 
Broncs By The Numbers
- Wheeler led Rider with three hits across the pair of games.
- Luedtke, Cruz, Morgan, and Rodriguez all finished with a pair of hits across the games.
- Keegan St. Cyr (Hopkinton, NH/Hopkinton) and Reda-Fehsal each added a hit on the day.
- Cruz had four RBIs on the day, Reda-Fehsal added two, and Luedtke, Morgan, and Rodriguez each had one.
 
Up Next
The Broncs and Gaels play the rubber match Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for noon.