NEW ROCHELLE, NY – The Rider University softball team was defeated in the rubber game of its series against Iona Sunday, falling 8-5. The Broncs fall to 5-11 on the season and 1-2 in MAAC play. The Gaels improve to 3-9 on the year, and 2-1 in league games.
The Gaels jumped on the Broncs early, scoring five runs in the bottom of the first. Rider would respond in the third.
Aspen Wheeler (Lampasas, TX/Lampasas) led off the inning with a single, then two batters later,
Maddie Luedtke (Gibbstown, NJ/Gloucester County Institute of Technology) cracked a home run to left to get two on the board for the Broncs.
The Gaels got the two runs back in the fourth, before
Fallyn Stoeckel (Nutley, NJ/Nutley) led off the fifth with a walk and Luedtke followed with her second homer of the game, this one to right center. After Iona scored one in the bottom of the fifth,
Shelby Dyer (Clarksboro, NJ/Kingsway Regional) drew a one-out walk in the sixth. She moved up to second on a ground out, then came in to score, taking advantage of an Iona error to get the Broncs back within three at 8-5.
The Broncs got a base runner in the seventh, but would be unable to bring the tying run to the plate.
Quotes & Notes
- Iona's lead in the all-time series is extended to 36-27.
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Madison Moran (Lafayette Hill, PA/Plymouth Whitemarsh) got the start in the circle, allowing five runs on four hits, taking the loss.
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Lily Ornelas (Hernando, FL/Trinity Catholic) came out of the pen to toss six innings, allowing three runs on eight hits. She struck out two.
- Luedtke's home runs give her three on the season and 10 in her career.
Broncs By The Numbers
- Luedtke and
Gabi Rodriguez (Chula Vista, CA/Olympian) each had two hits in the game to lead the Broncs.
- Wheeler, Dyer, and
Kendall Reda-Fehsal (Succasunna, NJ/Roxbury) each had a hit in the game.
- Luedtke had four RBIs in the game.
Up Next
The Broncs are off for the week until they host Manhattan Saturday with a double header beginning at 12 p.m.
