(Nashua, N.H.) The Rivier University Softball team earned two important Great Northeast Athletic Conference victories this afternoon as they swept a GNAC Double-Header against visiting Norwich University, 8-2 and 4-3 up at Raider Diamond. The wins moves Rivier to 11-14 overall with a 4-11 GNAC record while Norwich falls to 5-17, 3-11 GNAC.
Game One: Rivier University 8, Norwich University 2 (Final)
Junior Taylor Miller (Haverhill, Mass.) spun a gem as she cruised to her fourth win of the season after tossing a complete game in the game one win by the Raiders. Miller pitched all seven frames allowing just two runs while scattering eight hits.
Sophomore Shaylyn Freitas (Pelham, N.H.) provided all the support Miller would need as she blasted her fourth home run of the season, this one a Grand Slam to highlight the six run fourth inning for Rivier. Freitas finished the game going 3-for-4. Freshman Jordan Parece (Pelham, N.H.) was the other Raider to record a multi-hit game as she went 2-for-4 with a RBI.
Norwich received solid efforts from leadoff hitter Payton Warner and Justina George as the pair combined for five of the team's 8 hits. Warner went 3-for-4. Taylor Morris suffered the loss as she allowed eight runs on eight hits. Angie Hershberger went 1-for-3 with a two RBI base knock in the sixth inning.
Game Two: Rivier University 4, Norwich University 3 (Final)
Freitas' RBI single capped a three run seventh inning rally as the Raiders walked-off with a 4-3 win over Norwich to close out the GNAC Double-Header.
Trailing 3-1, sophomore Jessica Cote (Nashua, N.H.) lead off the inning with a single and freshman Emily Knoops (Tewksbury, Mass.) laced a RBI double that plated freshman pinch runner Mary Kate Sweeny (Chicopee, Mass.) to bring Rivier within one. Junior Lia Bobek (Hollis, N.H.) worked a walk and freshman Tori Dugan (Norwalk, Conn.) placed a perfect sacrifice bunt to set the dramatic finish. Parece then tied the game with a RBI single, which brought home Knoops before Freitas won the game with a solid base hit to bring home Bobek.
The rally gave junior pitcher Libby Sammon (Rockland, Mass.) her fourth win of 2015 as she improves to 4-2 overall. Sammon spun seven strong innings allowing three runs on eight hits while not issuing a single walk.
Parece went 2-for-4 while junior Sam Verney (Goffstown, N.H.) was 2-for-3 and Cote went a perfect 2-for-2 for Rivier.
Jordan Day and Warner were the only multi-hit Cadets in the second game. Connie Baita (2-7) suffered the tough luck loss as she allowed four runs on ten hits with three strikeouts during her 6.1 innings of work.
Next up for Rivier will be a non-conference double header with cross town foe Daniel Webster College on Tuesday afternoon at Raider Diamond. Norwich will return to action on Tuesday as well as they travel to Lasell College for a GNAC twin bill.
