NASHUA, N.H. – The Rivier softball team split a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) doubleheader against University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) on Saturday afternoon at Raider Diamond, falling 3-1 in the opener before rallying for an 8-7 extra-inning walk-off victory in game two.
With the split, the Raiders finished the regular season at 15-21 overall and 11-7 in GNAC play, while the Blue Jays moved to 23-17 on the season (11-7 GNAC)
Saint Joseph (Conn.) 3, Rivier 1
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Both teams traded scoreless innings through the first two frames before Saint Joseph broke through with three runs in the third, capitalizing on an error and RBI hits
- Junior Hailey Berube settled in after the third and held the Blue Jays scoreless over the final four innings to keep Rivier within striking distance.
- The Raiders threatened in both the fourth and sixth innings but were unable to break through against Blue Jays
- Rivier mounted a final push in the seventh as senior Avry Nelson, first-year Emma Politz, and senior Kylee Caetano loaded the bases.
- Senior Olivia Couto lifted a sacrifice fly to bring home Nelson and cut the deficit to 3-1
- The Raiders brought the tying run to the plate, but Saint Joseph held on to claim the opener.
BOX SCORE BREAKDOWN
- Caetano and senior Hayley Rapaglia each recorded two hits to lead the offense.
- Couto drove in Rivier's lone run with a seventh-inning sacrifice fly.
- Berube tossed a complete game, allowing just one earned run while striking out three.
- Rivier outhit Saint Joseph 8-5 in the contest.
Rivier 8, Saint Joseph (Conn.) 7 (8 inn.)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Saint Joseph plated a run in the first, but the Raiders answered with three in the bottom half behind a two-run double from senior Hayley Rapaglia and an RBI single from junior Hayleigh Silva.
- The Blue Jays responded with four runs in the second to take a 5-3 advantage.
- Rivier surged back in the fourth, scoring three runs to reclaim a 6-5 lead, highlighted by an RBI single from Caetano and a Saint Joseph error that brought home two more runs.
- Berube came on in relief and delivered 5.2 strong innings to keep the Blue Jays off balance.
- Saint Joseph tied the game in the seventh on a sacrifice fly to force extras.
- The Blue Jays pushed across a run in the eighth to take a 7-6 lead.
- In the bottom half, first-year Savannah Steiner delivered a clutch pinch-hit RBI single to tie the game before Politz lifted a walk-off sacrifice fly to score junior Sophia Quinlan and secure the 8-7 victory.
BOX SCORE BREAKDOWN
- Caetano and Couto each recorded two hits in the win.
- Rapaglia drove in two runs
- Politz drove in the game-winning run, while Steiner delivered the game-tying RBI single in the eighth.
- Berube struck out five in a stellar relief appearance.
UP NEXT
The Raiders await seeding for the upcoming GNAC Softball Championship Tournament set to begin on Wednesday evening.
