NASHUA, N.H. – In its first game played at Harvey Woods Field since 2022, the Rivier baseball team used an offensive surge from senior Luis Tejada and a stellar outing from sophomore righthander Jake O'Connor to down Albertus Magnus by a final score of 12-2 in seven innings Monday in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play.
The Raiders, now on a three-game winning streak, improved to 9-14 (4-5 GNAC) with the victory. The visiting Falcons' three-game streak came to a halt as they fell to 6-16 (1-9 GNAC).
After Albertus Magnus took a 1-0 lead during its first at bats, Rivier responded with a three-run bottom half as senior JD Normand knocked in a run with an RBI double before Tejada pushed in two runs with a double to left center.
In the bottom of the second, the Raiders added to their lead as Normand and Tejada again led off the frame knocking runners across the plate to make it 5-1. Junior Dylan Aliberti forced a walk with the bases loaded to make it a five-run game and later stole home on a walk drawn by classmate Owen Medlock to make it 7-1.
Junior Nathan Innerfield recorded an RBI single to left center in the third before Normand knocked him in on an RBI base knock of his own to make it 9-1 in favor of the hosts.
The Falcons added one run to their tally in the top of the seventh, scoring on an error with the bases loaded to cut the Rivier lead to seven.
The Raiders, needing three runs to earn a victory by way of the run-rule, relied on Innerfield's two-RBI single and Tejada's RBI walk-off single to seal the victory.
Tejada finished his outing going 5-for-5 with a pair of doubles, four runs batted in, and one run scored. Innerfield went 4-for-5 with three RBI and four runs to his credit. Both senior Kyle Hsu and sophomore Sebastien Reis went 3-for-4, with Hsu later scoring on four occasions. Normand finished his day 2-for-5 with three RBI and one run. The Raiders swiped six bases, with Hsu stealing twice.
O'Connor was solid on the bump, pitching 6.0 innings, allowing one run. The sophomore allowed six hits and one walk while striking out three Falcons on 88 pitches. First-year John Horgan came in to close out the game.
Rivier will return to Harvey Woods Field on Wednesday, April 16 for a 3:00 p.m. showdown against GNAC foe Elms.
