POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (May 7, 2025) - The 2025 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Softball Championship kicked off Wednesday after weather postponed play for day one. No. 6 Rider University pushed past No. 7 Quinnipiac, 1-0, and No. 5 Canisius had the edge over No. 8 Sacred Heart, winning 1-0. The second half of the day saw the first-round winners taking on No. 3 Iona University and No. 4 Siena College. The Broncs handed Iona its first loss of the tournament, fueled by a standout performance from sophomore Kendall Reda-Fehsal, who hit two home runs. Iona will now face No. 5 seed Canisius in an elimination game tomorrow. Canisius dropped their game to Siena, who took an early lead and held on to advance. With the win, Siena moves on to face top-seeded Marist University, while Rider will take on No. 2 seed Fairfield.
 
No. 6  Rider – 1 |  No. 7 Quinnipiac - 0
Gartland Athletic Field | Poughkeepsie | 9:00 AM | Box Score
 
Rider edged Quinnipiac 1–0 in a tight, low-scoring matchup. The game’s only run came in the bottom of the fifth, when Shea Johnson scored on an RBI single by Shelby Dyer. Rider’s pitching and defense held strong, retiring the side in the seventh despite a late Quinnipiac single. The Broncs scattered six baserunners and relied on timely outs to escape jams, while Quinnipiac couldn’t find a rhythm at the plate, totaling just two hits. Rider's clutch fifth inning proved the difference.
No. 5 Canisius-1 | No. 7 Sacred Heart – 0
Gartland Athletic Field  | Poughkeepsie | 11:30 AM | Box Score
 
In a tightly contested game, both Sacred Heart and Canisius showcased strong pitching and solid defense. Sacred Heart threatened in the third and fifth innings with runners in scoring position, including a double from Kowalski and a leadoff double by Freed, but couldn’t push a run across. Canisius capitalized in the fourth inning, scoring the game’s only run on a bases-loaded walk after a string of disciplined at-bats. Despite limited offense on both sides, the game remained competitive throughout, with timely outs and clean fielding keeping it close. Canisius held on for a 1–0 lead through six and a half innings.
 
 
No. 6  Rider – 5 |  No. 3 Iona - 2
Gartland Athletic Field  | Poughkeepsie | 2:30 PM | Box Score
Rider used timely hitting and a pair of home runs to take control early and held off a late push from Iona to secure a 5–2 victory. The Broncs struck first in the second inning with three straight hits, capped by Shea Johnson’s RBI single. Kristyn Gardner and Kendall Reda-Fehsal each launched solo home runs in the third, extending the lead to 4–0. Reda-Fehsal added his second homer in the fifth to make it 5–0. Rider's pitching staff kept Iona off the board through six innings, limiting the Gaels to scattered hits. Iona’s late rally came in the seventh, highlighted by a two-run homer from Lichtner, but it wasn't enough to overcome the deficit. Rider’s balanced attack and solid defense preserved the win.

No. 2  Siena – 1 |  No. 5 Canisius - 0
Gartland Athletic Field  | Poughkeepsie | 4:30 PM | Box Score
 
A first-inning RBI double from Grace Goewey proved to be the difference as Siena defeated Canisius 1–0 in a tightly contested game marked by strong pitching and timely defense. After Emma Petersen reached on a two-out walk, Goewey delivered a double to right field, driving in the game’s only run before being thrown out at third. Siena’s pitching staff held Canisius to just three hits while escaping several scoring threats, including a bases-loaded situation in the fifth. The Saints’ defense remained sharp, turning a key double play in the third and stranding six Canisius runners overall.  DiMeglio led Siena offensively with a double and a sacrifice bunt, while the bullpen shut the door over the final innings. Despite drawing five walks and putting runners in scoring position multiple times, the Golden Griffins were unable to capitalize, as Siena claimed a hard-fought non-conference win.
 
 
 
The 2025 MAAC Softball Championship is an eight-team single and double elimination championship taking place between May 6-10, 2025. Games 1 and 2 will be single elimination and games 3-12 will be double elimination. The championship will be hosted by the highest seed. For all information regarding the 2025 MAAC Softball Championship, please visit maacsports.com/softball.
 
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 13 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 44th year of competition during the 2024-25 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius University, Fairfield University, Iona University, Manhattan University, Marist University, Merrimack College, Mount St. Mary’s University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Sacred Heart University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College.
 
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