Broncs win one of three in first conference series at Iona University

By Joshua Yuhas

Rider softball traveled to New York for their first Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference series against Iona University, falling 5-4 in the opener, winning 5-1 in the first of a double-header and dropping the rubber match, 8-5.

Late heartbreak 

In the opening game of the series on March 7, the Gaels took an early lead with a solo home run in the bottom of the first.

The Broncs got a pair of two-out walks in the top of the second, but did not score. The following inning, junior catcher Abby Cruz launched a three-run home run for a 3-1 lead.

Moving to the bottom of the fourth inning, Iona responded with a single to start the inning, then lifted one over the wall to tie the game at 3-3.

An inning later in the fifth, back-to-back doubles from the Gaels gave Iona a 4-3 lead that they carried into the seventh inning.

In the top half, junior infielder Kiersten Buchanan reached first on an error and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from sophomore middle infielder        Aspen Wheeler. 

A groundout moved Buchanan to third, where senior outfielder Maddie Luedtke crushed a double to bring the game back to a tie.

With a one-out walk for the Gaels, a walk-off double with two outs gave Iona the victory, 5-4.

Two-way dominance

The Broncs took early control in the first game of on March 8 with a dominant showing on the mound from sophomore pitcher Gabi Rodriguez.

Following a fielder’s choice from senior pitcher and outfielder Fallyn Stoeckel and a Luedtke walk, Cruz roped a double to center, which scored Stoeckel and advanced Luedtke to third base.

Junior catcher and first baseman Kendall Reda-Fehsal reached on a fielder’s choice of her own that allowed Luedtke to score for Reda-Fehsal’s first RBI of the day.

After a crushing loss in game one of the series, Reda-Fehsal expressed the mindset of the Broncs in the second game.

“We knew we had to bounce back hard after taking such a close loss in game one. We came together and rallied our energy to stay up through the cold,” Reda-Fehsal said.

After Rider’s two-run first inning, the pitchers took control, as neither side would score until the sixth inning and Rodriguez did not allow a hit until a one-out double in the fourth.

In the sixth inning, the Broncs’ offense heated up with a double from Luedtke and a triple from Reda-Fehsal, producing two early runs for a 4-0 lead.

Rodriguez closed out the three-run inning with an RBI single, scoring sophomore first baseman Emma Morgan and extending the lead for the Broncs.

A home run in the bottom half got one back for the Gaels, but was the only run scored by Iona in the contest, ending the matchup with the Broncs        winning, 5-1.

On the mound, Rodriguez threw a complete game in the win, allowing just four hits on the day. At the plate, Rodriguez drove in one with her single for a top-level performance in game one of the doubleheader.

Early hole too deep

In the second game on March 8, the Broncs walked twice, but could not bring either runner around to score.

The bottom half was not kind to the Broncs, as the Gaels’ first seven batters reached the bases through a mix of hits and walks.

Three singles and a walk scored one and left the bases loaded where a triple to right center cleared the bases for an early 4-0 deficit for the Broncs.

While allowing a walk and a single that pushed the gap to five to start her relief appearance, freshman pitcher Lily Ornelas escaped the jam.

In the third inning, a Wheeler single set up for a Luedtke two-run home run to make it a three-run game, but Iona responded with two runs just an inning later. Luedtke struck again in the top of the fifth with another two-run home run.

The Broncs and Gaels each scored a run in the following half innings, the Gaels leaving with a three-run advantage, 8-5, over the Broncs in the rubber match.

“I believe we are right there,” Reda-Fehsal said. “We know what we need to improve on and we are working so hard each week to refine the little things that need improving.”

Rider heads home for the first time in the 2026 season with a two-game set against Manhattan University, with a double-header on March 15.