POUGHKEEPSIE, NY – The Rider University softball team was defeated in the rubber game of the series Sunday afternoon at Marist, falling 7-6. The Broncs moved to 19-18 on the season and 10-8 in MAAC play, while the Red Foxes are now 21-19 overall and 15-3 in league games.
 
The Broncs jumped out to an early lead, taking advantage of three Marist errors to plate a pair of runs in the top of the first. The Red Foxes came back to tie the game in the second with two runs of their own.
 
The Broncs immediately responded. Maddie Luedtke (Gibbstown, NJ/Gloucester County Institute of Technology) led off the bottom of the third with a single, then three batters later, Fallyn Stoeckel (Nutley, NJ/Nutley) delivered an RBI double to plate Luedtke and give Rider the lead. Kiersten Buchanan (Holly Springs, NC/Holly Springs) extended the lead with an RBI single to make the score 4-2. Marist quickly responded with a pair of home runs in the bottom of the third to again tie the game.
 
In the fourth, Aspen Wheeler (Lampasas, TX/Lampasas) and Keegan St. Cyr (Hopkinton, NH/Hopkinton) led off the inning with back-to-back singles, then Luedtke walked to load the bases. After a run came in to score on a passed ball, and Kendall Reda-Fehsal (Succasunna, NJ/Roxbury) was intentionally walked to once again load the bases, the Broncs got a run on another Marist error to lead 6-4.
 
The Red Foxes would come back with two runs in the fifth and one in the sixth to take the lead, while also keeping the Broncs from threatening offensive to secure the series win.
 
Quotes & Notes
- Stoeckel started the game in the circle, tossing two innings, allowing four runs on eight hits, and seeing her scoreless innings streak stopped at 16.
- Gabi Rodriguez (Chula Vista, CA/Olympian), came on in relief, throwing four innings and allowing three runs on six hits, taking the loss.
 
Broncs By The Numbers
- St. Cyr and Wheeler each had two hits to lead Rider in the game.
- Luedtke, Abby Cruz (Corona, CA/Santiago), Stoeckel, Buchanan, and Emma Morgan (Mechanicsburg, PA/Cumberland Valley) each finished a hit in the contest.
 
Up Next
The Broncs are back in action Wednesday, hosting Lehigh for a double header at 2 p.m.