NASHUA, N.H. – The Rivier softball team was swept by Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) opponents Simmons 4-0 and 10-8 in the home opener on Wednesday, April 9 at the Raider Diamond.
With the losses, the Raiders fell to 8-12 (2-2 GNAC), while the Sharks improved to 12-17 (4-4 GNAC).
The Raiders return to the diamond on Sunday, April 13, for a non-divisional GNAC match up with Mitchell. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
Simmons 4, Rivier 0
Simmons began the contest with a bang as Raya Anderson sent a ball over the fence in center field to put the Sharks up 1-0 in the top of the first inning.
Following two scoreless innings from sophomore pitcher Hailey Berube, Simmons got the bats going again in the top of the fourth, bringing three runs across the plate and extending its lead to 4-0.
Rivier held the Sharks scoreless through the final three innings of play but were unable to spark a comeback and fell 4-0 after seven.
Junior Kylee Caetano recorded the lone hit for the Raiders, a double to center field in the bottom of the fourth inning. The hit marked the 100th of her career. In the circle, Berube struck out four Simmons batters in addition to her five scoreless innings.
Simmons 10, Rivier 8
Simmons jumped out to an early 1-0 lead at the top of the first and added three more runs at the top of the second to increase their advantage to 4-0.
Rivier responded in the bottom of the second inning, exploding for five runs. Senior Courtney Marioles kicked off the inning by launching a ball over the fence in left field. Juniors Olivia Couto and Avry Nelson both reached base on errors with Couto crossing the plate on a wild pitch to bring the Raiders within two. Nelson also scored on a wild pitch, cutting Simmons' lead to 4-3. Rivier took their first lead of the day when Kylee Caetano delivered a two-RBI double to right center field to give the Raiders a 5-4 advantage.
The Sharks knotted up the contest at 5-5 on an RBI single to right-center field, then pulled out in front 6-5 on an error by the shortstop.
Rivier battled to regain the lead once again in the bottom half of the third inning. A sacrifice fly from graduate student Kayla Miles brought home the tying run. Caetano came through one again with a two-RBI single up the middle, putting the Raiders in front 8-6.
Both squads were held scoreless through the fourth inning, but Simmons regained the lead in the top half of the fifth inning on a three-run home run to left center field to take a 9-8 lead. The Sharks added an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning to secure a 10-8 victory.
Three pitchers saw time for the Raiders in the contest. Marioles got the start and struck out two batters. Sophomore Hayleigh Silva entered the game in the top of the fourth inning and struck out four. Berube entered the game in the seventh inning and held the Simmons scoreless in an attempt at a comeback.
Caetano led the offense for Rivier, going 2-for-4 with four RBI. Graduate student Hannah Muchemore followed closely behind, recording a 2-for-3 day at the plate with a run scored and a walk.
