LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – Jessie Niegocki (Marana, AZ/Mountain View) went 4-for-5 on the day and earned the win in Game 1 and Brianna Koonce (Warminster, PA/William Tennent) ripped a three-run home run in Game 2 as the Rider University softball team swept Quinnipiac, 4-3 and 5-3, on Senior Day Monday afternoon at Herb & Joan Young Field. With the sweep, the Broncs improve to 16-28 (6-8 MAAC), while the Bobcats fall to 16-22 (4-12 MAAC).  

In Game 1, the Bobcats took the early lead with single runs in the second and third innings. The first came on a throw to third base on a stolen-base attempt. With no one covering the throw went into left field, allowing Quinnipiac to score the game's first run. A single, a wild pitch and an RBI single, all with two out in the third pushed the Bobcats' second run across. The Broncs responded with the next four runs. In the fourth, Laneya Wright (Tucson, AZ/Marana) led off with a single and scored on Chaela Crowder's (Simi Valley, CA/Simi Valley) two-out RBI double. Rider then tacked on three runs in the fifth to take a 4-2 lead. Maddie Luedtke (Gibbstown, NJ/Gloucester County Institute of Technology) reached on an error to start the inning, before Fallyn Stoeckel (Nutley, NJ/Nutley) singled and stole second to put runners on second and third. Niegocki's single down the left field line tied the game, before Gianna Epps' (Pottstown, PA/Pottstown) line drive ticked off the pitcher's mitt into center field for a go-ahead single. Wright then delivered Niegocki from third with a sacrifice fly to make it 4-2 Rider after five.

Quinnipiac would get a run back in the sixth on an error, a stolen base and a two-out RBI single from Hannah Davis. But Kathryn Schmierer (Racine, WI/Racine Lutheran) came on and recorded the final four outs to secure the save for Niegocki.

The Bobcats again struck first in Game 2, as Mary Fogg singled, took second on a wild pitch and went to third and scored on consecutive groundouts. Rider got the run back in the second as Olivia Burroughs (Escondido, CA/San Pasqual) doubled and scored on a lined single to center from Kristyn Gardner (Perrysville, MD/Perrysville). In the fourth, an error and a Gardner single set the table for Koonce, who left the yard with an opposite-field, three-run home run to right center to give Rider a 4-1 lead. The Broncs' lead extended to 5-1 on consecutive doubles from Niegocki and Epps to open the fifth, before Quinnipiac got two runs back in the top of the sixth on a swinging bunt and a two-run blast to make it a 5-3 Rider advantage. But again, Schmierer came on for the final inning-plus to record her second save of the day.

Notes
- Niegocki earned her team-leading eighth win of the season, allowing three runs, one earned, on five hits and three walks, while striking out seven in 5.2 innings pitched in Game 1.
- Schmierer's saves were the first of the year by a Broncs pitcher. She allowed just one hit over 1.1 innings pitched in Game 1, before retiring all five batters she faced in Game 2.  
- Stoeckel started Game 2 and earned the win, allowing three earned runs on eight hits without walking a batter over 5.1 innings pitched. She struck out two.
- Rider finishes the home slate 9-6 at Herb & Joan Young Field, including a 6-4 mark in MAAC games.
- Prior to the game, the Broncs honored their five-member senior class of Alyssa Ansara (Waterville, OH/Anthony Wayne), Amanda Cooper (Huntsville, TX/Huntsville), Crowder, Epps and Koonce during Senior Day ceremonies.

Broncs by the Numbers
- Seven different Broncs had one hit apiece in Game 1.
- Niegocki led the Broncs with a 4-for-5 effort at the plate on the day, going 1-for-2 with a single, a walk, an RBI and a run scored in Game 1, before going 3-for-3 with a double and a run scored in Game 2.
- Wright reached safely on 4-of-6 plate appearances, going 2-for-3 with two walks, a sacrifice fly, a run scored and an RBI.
- Gardner went 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI in Game 2.
- Koonce and Epps added two hits apiece, both with a double. Koonce scored once and drove in three, while Epps drove in two.
- Stoeckel singled, walked and scored a run in Game 1.
- Crowder doubled and drove in a run.
- Jadeyn Merrill (Lamesa, TX/Lamesa) added a double.
- Burroughs kept pace with Marist's Haley Ahr for the lead league in doubles with her 15^th of the year. She scored twice on the day.
- Luedtke also scored a run.

Up Next
The Broncs return to action Tuesday, when they travel to Mount St. Mary's. First pitch from Emmitsburg, MD, is scheduled for 2 p.m.