LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – The Rider University softball team was defeated in both games of a doubleheader Friday against Mount St. Mary's, falling in game one 6-4, before dropping game two, 8-5 in eight innings. The Broncs fall to 25-23 on the season, and 14-12 in MAAC play, while the Mountaineers improve to 19-28 on the year, and an equal 14-12 in league games.
The Broncs struck first in game one.
Keegan St. Cyr (Hopkinton, NH/Hopkinton) led off the third by reaching on an error. Two batters later,
Kendall Reda-Fehsal (Succasunna, NJ/Roxbury) homered the opposite way, staking the Broncs to the early 2-0 lead. The lead would be short-lived with the Mount scoring three in the top of the fourth.
St. Cyr started another rally for the Broncs in the fifth, leading off the inning with a single.
Gabi Rodriguez (Chula Vista, CA/Olympian) was hit by a pitch, then Reda-Fehsal drew a walk to load the bases.
Abby Cruz (Corona, CA/Santiago) tied the game with a single, then
Kiersten Buchanan (Holly Springs, NC/Holly Springs) drove in a run on a fielder's choice to put the Broncs back on top 4-3. Once again, the Mount had a quick answer, scoring three in the top of the sixth before holding Rider without a hit over the final two innings to take game one.
In game two, the Broncs jumped out to an early lead again.
Fallyn Stoeckel (Nutley, NJ/Nutley) drew a two-out walk then Reda-Fehsal turned on a pitch for her second homer of the day, putting Rider up 2-0. In the second,
Aspen Wheeler (Lampasas, TX/Lampasas) drew the two-out walk, setting up St. Cyr for the two-run home run to right. The Mountaineers would get two of the runs back in the top of the fifth with a home run.
Rider answered in the bottom of the fifth. St. Cyr was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, then Stoeckel hit an infield single. With one away, Cruz was hit by a pitch to load the bases, then with two outs,
Emma Morgan (Mechanicsburg, PA/Cumberland Valley) delivered an RBI single to push the lead to 5-2. The score remained there into the seventh when Mount St. Mary's scored three runs to tie the game. The Mount then added another three-run inning in the eighth, and retired the Broncs in the bottom half without allowing a run to claim the doubleheader sweep.
Quotes & Notes
- Rodriguez started game one, tossing six innings, allowing six runs, five earned on eight hits, striking out two while taking the loss.
- Stoeckel started game two in the circle, tossing all eight innings in the night cap, allowing eight runs on nine hits, while striking out three, taking the loss.
- Reda-Fehsal's home runs give her MAAC-leading 14 on the season, and 26 for her career.
- St. Cyr's home run is the second of her season and career.
- The Broncs now need a win in the regular-season finale Saturday combined with a Sacred Heart loss to qualify for the MAAC Tournament.
Broncs By The Numbers
- Reda-Fehsal, St. Cyr, and Buchanan led Rider with three hits each across the pair of games.
- Cruz and Morgan had a pair of hits in the doubleheader.
- Wheeler and Stoeckel each had a hit in the pair of games.
Up Next
The Broncs are back in action Saturday for the regular season finale against Mount St. Mary's. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m., but be sure to arrive early for our senior day presentation.
