NASHUA, N.H. – The Rivier softball team registered a pair of wins over Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) opponent Mitchell on Monday night at Raider Diamond, walking off game one, 7-6, before taking game two by a final score of 14-7.
The Raiders improved to 10-12 (4-2 GNAC) while the Mariners dropped to 10-17-1 (5-9 GNAC).
Rivier presses pause on conference play and head to Carr Diamond in Boston, Mass. on Wednesday, April 16 for a doubleheader against Wentworth. First pitch in game one is set for 4:00 p.m.
Rivier 7, Mitchell 6
Rivier got out to an early advantage, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first. Junior Olivia Couto doubled to left center, pushing two runs across, before classmate Avry Nelson recorded an RBI single to make it 3-0 after one inning.
In the third, Rivier added to its lead as graduate student Hannah Muchemore singled through the left side to drive in a run. She then stole second, allowing Couto, who had reached on an error, to score on the throw down.
Mitchell went on to score six straight runs over the fourth, fifth, and seventh innings to take a 6-5 lead.
In the bottom of the seventh, Nelson scored classmate Hayley Rapaglia on an RBI infield single before sophomore Sophia Quinlan walked it off with an RBI double two batters later.
Rapaglia went 2-for-4 at the dish with two runs scored. Couto and Nelson knocked in a pair each.
Senior Courtney Marioles pitched a complete game to earn the victory, allowing four earned runs, while recording two strikeouts.
Rivier 14, Mitchell 7
The Mariners jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the top of the first. Rivier responded with two runs of its own to cut the deficit to one run.
After a scoreless top of the second, the Raiders rallied for two runs to take their first lead of the game as juniors Hayley Rapaglia and Olivia Couto each recorded RBI base knocks.
Mitchell would go on to regain the lead, 6-5, with a two-run top of the third. In the bottom of the frame, junior Kylee Caetano singled up the middle to tie the game once again.
The Mariners would not go away offensively in the top of the fourth, scoring once to regain the edge, 7-6. Graduate student Hannah Muchemore launched a solo homer in the bottom half to tie things up at 7-all, sparking a Rivier rally.
Rivier went on to score seven runs in the fifth and sixth innings to convincingly earn the sweep, with Rapaglia, Muchemore, senior Courtney Marioles, and Quinlan all recording RBIs in that span.
Sophomore Hailey Berube earned the win, tossing a complete game. The righty gave up four earned runs, striking out two batters faced in her fifth victory of the campaign.
