(Nashua, NH) The Rivier College Raiders Softball team received two huge pitching performances from sophomore Lauren Beatty (Sherman, CT) and Nadjeska Reynolds (Hamden, CT) as they took home two GNAC wins over Emmanuel College this afternoon, 8-2 and 9-1.

GAME ONE

The Raiders (9-3 overall, 3-2 GNAC) used a seven run 3rd inning to come from behind and defeat Emmanuel College (4-13 overall, 2-3 GNAC) by an 8-2 final.

Senior captain Karen Waterman (Rutland, VT) was right in the middle of the action as she went 2-for-3 with 2 runs scored. Freshman Samantha Verney (Goffstown, NH) also contributed with a solid 2-for-3, RBI  performance while junior Marissa Mercier (North Smithfield, RI) added a RBI double.

The story of the game was the gem that Beatty spun inside the circle. She tossed a complete game allowing the Saints just 2 runs on 7 hits while striking out 3.

GAME TWO

Reynolds came just one out shy of pitching a no hitter as Rivier took game two in a 9-1 win.

She retired 9 batters in a row at one point in the game in her 6 innings of work. Emmanuel was able to score the lone run on a RBI single to left field by Kelly Lloid in the 6th. The junior from Hamden, CT struck out three batters and issued three walks as she earned her fourth win of 2012.

Pacing the 9 run Riv attack was sophomore shortstop Catherine Roy (Dracut, MA). Roy finished the second game going 2-for-4 with 2 RBI, bringing her weekend RBI total to 11. Classmate Nicole Peacock (Warwick, RI) went 2-for-3 with 2 runs scored and a RBI while Mercier followed with her own 2-for-3 showing, including a towering 2 run bomb to dead centerfield. Also collecting two hits in the game were Waterman, and sophomore Samantha Gagnon (Rollinsford, NH).

The Raiders (10-3 overall, 4-2 GNAC) will return to on Wednesday afternoon as they travel to Newbury College for a non-conference double header. The next home date is scheduled for Friday, March 30th against GNAC newcomer Anna Maria College.