MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The Rivier baseball team is set to open the season on Sunday, March 2 with a doubleheader against Lancaster Bible at The Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach, S.C. The Raiders aim to build on last season and make a strong push for a return to the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) postseason.
Last season, the Raiders closed out their season with a 10-22 overall record (6-10 GNAC), narrowly missing the playoffs.
Seniors Jacob Boudreau, Erik Whitehead, and Kyle Hsu, along with junior Anthony Morro, will captain the team comprised of 32 returners and eight newcomers.
Sophomore Sebastien Reis broke the program's single-season home run record with five knocks, a mark that was previously held by current assistant coach Aramis Velez '13. In his first collegiate season, infielder Colton Colleran produced a .325 batting average with 26 hits. In his first season with the Raiders as a junior in 2024, Hsu batted .299 with 29 hits, including nine doubles, two triples, and a homer.
Junior pitcher Ty Baker tallied four saves, tying for third in the GNAC. Morro made eight starts a year ago, hurling a team-high 39.0 innings. The righty notched 40 strikeouts, also the most on the squad. Nate Bonacorsi, a left-handed senior, will look to get a considerable amount of time on the bump in 2025 after making seven starts in each of the last two seasons.
The eight newcomers consist of five first-years (Jayce Martinez, Brady Balint, Nikolas Mastakouras, Hunter Malkin, John Horgan) and three transfers (Jake O'Connor, Nathan Innerfield, Liam Stott).
The season begins with an eight-game slate in Myrtle Beach, including a doubleheader against Lancaster Bible, followed by matchups against Elmira, Valley Forge, Hilbert, and Eastern, before wrapping up with a doubleheader against Manhattanville. The Raiders will return home for their first regional matchup against Wentworth on March 13. The home opener is set for April 1, as the team faces Dean in GNAC action. A key road bout against defending GNAC champion Mitchell is scheduled for April 5. The regular season concludes with a doubleheader against Colby-Sawyer (4/26).
