JWU Sweeps Rivier in GNAC Twin Bill

The Johnson & Wales baseball team swept Rivier in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference double header at Pierce Field on Sunday afternoon. JWU took a 9-3 win in the first game before finishing the sweep with an 18-7 victory in the nightcap. In the opener, JWU took the 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second when senior Teddy Katz (Pittsburgh, Pa.) led off with a triple and scored on a fielder's choice by freshman Jake Dickerson (Garnet, Valley, Pa.). The Wildcats extended their lead with three runs in the bottom of the fourth, including a two-run double by senior Mike Murphy (Pawtucket, R.I.) to go ahead 4-0. In the bottom of the fifth, Katz belted his first home run of the season to go up 5-0. Rivier chipped away at the lead in the top of the sixth as they put up three runs, including an RBI double by sophomore Kyle Bowser (Newington, N.H.). That would be as close as the Raiders would get, however as the Wildcats tacked on four runs in the bottom of the sixth, including a two-run single by senior Matt Yaeger (Glendale, Ariz.) en route to the 9-3 victory. Katz was 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBI for JWU while senior Bryan Sayers (Chelmsford, Mass.) went 2-for-2 with a pair of runs for the Wildcats. Junior Alex MacKay (Sanford, Maine) picked up the victory for JWU, allowing three runs on six hits with eight strikeouts in five and two third innings of work. Freshman Nathan Knoetig (Manchester, N.H.) was 2-for-3 with an RBI in the loss for Rivier.

The nightcap saw both teams explode offensively as they combined for 25 runs on 32 hits with seven home runs for the two squads. Rivier jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first on back-to-back solo home runs by junior Kevin Weaver (Hudson, N.H.) and Bowser. The visiting Raiders extended their lead to 4-0 on a two-run home run by freshman Nathan Knezevic (New Boston, N.H.) in the top of the second. JWU cut into the lead in the bottom of the second as a two-run home run by Dickerson made the score 4-2 and senior Nick Alosco (Mahopac, N.Y.). The Wildcats broke the game open in the bottom of the fourth as they added five runs, including a three-run blast by Katz, his second of the afternoon, to go up 10-4. A two run double by Katz as part of a four run fifth put JWU up 14-4. The Wildcats would then cruise to the 18-7 victory. Katz was 2-for-4 with a run and five RBI while sophomore Zach Boyes (West Warwick, R.I.) went 3-for-3 with a pair of runs for JWU. Weaver and sophomore Aramis Velez (Lowell, Mass.) each had three hits in the setback for Rivier. Junior Mike Wood (Hudson, Mass.) recorded the victory in the mound for the Wildcats, striking out four in seven innings of work.

With the two wins JWU is now 11-9-1 overall and 4-0 in the GNAC while Rivier falls to 1-10 for the season and 0-2 in league play. The Wildcats will return to action on Tuesday, April 5th when they travel to Curry for a non-conference contest, starting at 3:30 p.m.