NASHUA, N.H. – The Rivier softball team defeated Saint Joseph (Conn.) in both games of a non-divisional Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Raider Diamond. This marks the program's first sweep over the Blue Jays since the 2012 campaign.
With the pair of victories, the Raiders improved to 14-12 (6-2 GNAC), while the Blue Jays fell to 17-12 (8-4 GNAC).
Rivier returns to the diamond on Tuesday, April 22, for a make-up doubleheader versus Emmanuel (Mass.) at Roberto Clemente Field. First pitch is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.
Rivier 6, Saint Joseph (Conn.) 4
USJ opened the scoring with a couple of RBI singles coming with two outs to take an early 2-0. The Raiders quickly responded to take the lead in the bottom half of the first inning. Following back-to-back walks drawn by sophomore Hayleigh Silva and junior Kylee Caetano, a single to right center off the bat of graduate student Hannah Muchemore knocked in one run cut the Blue Jays' lead to one. Junior Hayley Rapaglia brought home the tying run on a sacrifice fly ball in foul territory. Muchemore later crossing the plate on a wild pitch to give the Raiders their first lead of the contest, 3-2.
Junior Hayley Rapaglia pitched a 1-2-3 top of the second, which included her third strikeout of the contest.
Rivier got its bats going once again in the third, extending its lead to 5-2. A sacrifice fly from junior Olivia Couto allowed Caetano to cross the plate for the second time in the game and double the Raiders' lead. Sophomore Sophia Quinlan reached on a fielder's choice to bring home Muchemore and extended the advantage to 5-2.
A lead-off triple from the Blue Jays, followed by a walk, put runners on the corners with no outs in the top of the fifth. An RBI groundout to second base was the only scoring play of the inning, brining USJ back within two runs.
Rivier saw its final run of the contest cross the plate in the bottom of the sixth as a result of an RBI single up the middle from Caetano to regain a three-run advantage.
USJ had one final run score in the top of the seventh in a last-ditch effort at a comeback, but a strikeout from Rapaglia capped off the victory for Rivier.
In going the distance, Rapaglia allowed just three earned runs and punched out a career-high eight batters faced. Muchemore led the offensive efforts in game one, going 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored and one RBI.
Rivier 2, Saint Joseph (Conn.) 1
Rivier struck first in game two, taking a 1-0 lead in the first inning with a two-out RBI single from Hayley Rapaglia to take a 1-0 lead.
Senior Courtney Marioles was dominate in the circle, holding USJ to zero runs with no hits allowed through four innings in the circle.
Rapaglia recorded her second RBI base hit of the contest to extend Rivier's lead to 2-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning.
With the bases loaded and only one out in the bottom of the seven, the Raiders recorded a double play on a sacrifice fly to end the game with a one-run advantage.
Marioles both pitched a complete game and went 3-for-3 at the plate. Hannah Muchemore added another three hits, and two runs scored to the book to round a 6-for-7 day at the dish. Rapaglia rounded out the offensive performance with a team-high two RBI.
