Rivier 9        Simmons 0 (6 innings)
Rivier 3        Simmons 2 (8 innings)

Nashua, NH - The Raiders (8-1; 2-0) opened conference play by jumping all over the visitors as they scored single runs in each of the first two innings to set the tone for the game. Freshman Katie Bachinski (Northfield, MA) led off the bottom of the first inning with a walk. A single by senior captain Monica White (Augusta, ME) moved Bachinski into scoring position. On cue, freshman Taylor Cournoyer (Mansfield, MA) delivered an RBI single up the middle. The next run for the Raiders was plated when junior captain Amanda Ryan (W. Bridgewater, MA) parked one over the fence. Riv scored 3 more times in the fourth inning off a 3-run round-tripper by Bachinski. Not to be outdone, Ryan drove another Shark offering deep over the centerfield fence to bring home freshman Mandy Thornton (Hanover, MA) and senior Jess Mellen (Rockland, MA) who started the frame with back to back singles. Monica White pitched another complete-game gem. She went 6 scoreless innings for her second shutout of the young season. White allowed 2 hits while striking out 7.

Game 2 was a different story altogether as the Raider bats suddenly went silent. Their defense and the pitching of Monica White kept the Blue and Gray in the game until they decided to plate the game-tying run in the bottom of the seventh inning. Simmons struck first after a leadoff double in the second inning was scored after consecutive base hits were yielded. White entered the game with runners at second and third with one out and simply shut the door on the Simmons offense. She gave up 3 hits and struck out another 7 batters in 6.2 innings of work. The seventh inning Raider rally was started by freshman Marissa Mercier (N. Smithfield, RI) who smashed an 0-2 pitch to right-centerfield. Freshman Danielle Magnant (Franklin, VT) pinch ran for Mercier and was sacrificed over to third base by freshman Mandy Thornton (Hanover, MA). A pop-up to the first baseman was mishandled, allowing Magnant to put the game into extra innings. In extra innings, a runner is placed at second base for each team. The Sharks sacrificed the runner to third base before a 2-out RBI single put the visitors ahead for the final time. Freshman Ashley Metivier (Hudson, NH) led off the bottom half of the frame with a base hit, advancing the runner to third base. Metivier promptly stole second base. A clutch RBI single by freshman Katie Bachinski (Northfield, MA) tied the game up. White decided she had pitched enough for the day and delivered a 2-1 offering up the middle for the game-winning RBI.

Riv hits the road for another conference double-header as they travel to Providence, RI tomorrow to take on the Wildcats of Johnson & Wales University. First pitch-12:00pm.