(Nashua, New Hampshire) In what felt more like a crisp autumn evening in the middle of April, the Rivier University Softball team split a Great Northeast Athletic Conference Double-Header against visiting Mount Ida College at Raider Diamond on Wednesday night.
The split raises the Raiders' overall record to 9-19 and 3-13 in the GNAC while Mount Ida improves to 8-18 and 7-11 (GNAC).
Game One: Mount Ida College 6, Rivier University 0 (Final)
Mount Ida freshman Shannon McArthur (Coventry, RI) blasted a first inning two run home run and the Mustangs pounded out 18 hits as they went on the win the first game 6-0. McArthur finished the contest going 2-for-5 with 2 RBI and freshman Kaitlyn Muhlenforth (Bohemia, NY) went 3-for-4 with two runs scored in the game one win for Mount Ida.
The Raiders managed just six hits and sophomore Lia Bobek (Hollis, NH) went a perfect 2-for-2 in the loss. Sophomore Libby Sammon (Rockland, Mass.) took the loss as she tossed four innings allowing all six runs (four earned) on 12 hits and striking out two. Senior Kirstie Clark (Brentwood, NH) pitched the final three innings and did not allow a Mustang to touch the plate and struck out three.
Freshman Nicole Handzel (Palmer, Mass.) improved to 7-10 on the season as she tossed a complete game shutout, striking out eleven and allowing six hits.
Game Two: Rivier University 11, Mount Ida College 9 (Final)
The Raiders exploded for nine runs in the first inning as they held on for an 11-9 game two victory against the Mustangs.
Sophomore Taylor Miller (Haverhill, Mass.) earned her second win of 2014 as she spun six innings of work giving up eight runs (five earned) on 12 hits and recording one strikeout. Clark came in for the seventh and allowed just one run as she earned her first save of the season. Muhlenforth took the loss as she allowed all eleven runs – six earned – on 9 hits and two strikeouts.
Rivier was led by senior Nicole Peacock (Warwick, RI) who went 3-for-5 with three runs scored, 2 RBI and two stolen bases. Freshman Destiny Jordan (Lawrence, Mass.) and Nicole Scotti (Concord, NH) knocked in two runs each on their 1-for-3 nights and Bobek added another two hits as she finished 2-for-3.
Mount Ida freshman Emma Morton (Winchester, Mass.) went 3-for-4 with a RBI and a double while classmate Lucianna Medici (Riverside, RI) added a solo blast on her 1-for-4 night in the game two loss. McArthur and senior Kirsten Guerrero (Fairfield, Conn.) each went 2-for-4 in the nightcap.
These were the final two home games for the Raiders in 2014 as their final six games will all be on the road. First up is Suffolk University tomorrow afternoon (3:30pm) in a make-up from an April 5th washout.
Mount Ida will host the University of Saint Joseph in their next scheduled contest on Friday afternoon beginning at 3pm.
