FINAL SCORE
Rider (9-22) – 11
Monmouth (6-26) – 7
 
LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – The Monmouth University softball team fell to the Rider Broncs by a score of 11-7 at Herb & Joan Young Field on Thursday afternoon.

After falling behind 2-0 after two innings of play, junior Abby Warner (2-for-4, RBI) cranked a solo home run to left field to cut the Rider lead in half. It was the fourth homer of the season for Warner, who is the team leader in the category.

Rider then exploded for eight runs in the bottom of the third to take a commanding 10-1 lead. The Hawks would not go down easily, however, and immediately responded with a four-run fourth. The inning was highlighted by Francesca Torraca's (2-for-3, 3 RBI) first career homer – a three-run shot over the wall in right center that made it a 10-5 ballgame.

Julia Thuer (2-for-4, 2 RBI) added a two-out, two-run double off the wall in center in the fifth to trim the contest to 10-7, but the Broncs were able to add an insurance run in the sixth and hold on to win the game, 11-7.

NOTES & QUOTES
"It was nice to see the team battle back today. We got ourselves into too big of a hole, unfortunately, but there was solid fight.

We got big hits from Abby and Franny, and Kelly came in and did well in relief. There are definitely things we want to build upon as we head into Charleston this weekend." – Head Coach Shannon Salsburg
 
- Abby Warner hit her team-leading fourth home run of 2023.
- The Hawks tied their season high in hits with 11.
- Since 2004, MU leads the head-to-head series 25-10.
 
NUMBER CRUNCH
- Devin Coia saw her seven-game hitting streak end.
- Francesca Torraca hit her first career home run.
- Julia Thuer recorded her first multi-hit game of the season.
- Rider outhit the Hawks, 12-11.
- Monmouth left five runners on base, while Rider left 10.
 
UP NEXT
The Hawks travel to the College of Charleston for a three-game series beginning Saturday, April 15, at 1 p.m.