Baseball drops a pair of GNAC games at Suffolk University

(Malden, Mass.) The Rivier University Baseball team dropped the first Great Northeast Athletic Conference contests of the season this afternoon, 9-3 and 5-0 to Suffolk University despite the rain and gloomy conditions at Maplewood Park.

Game One: Suffolk University 9, Rivier University 3 (Final)

Junior JJ Montello (Nashua, NH) had two hits but it wasn't enough as the Rams were able to score six runs in the fourth inning to defeat the Raiders 9-3.

The was decided on a crucial at bat in the bottom of the fourth. Suffolk's Mac Jacobson fought off pitch after pitch from Rivier junior Steven Carlberg (Dover, NH) and eventually was able to lift a ball passed the outstretched second basemen for a 2-out, 2-strike, 2-RBI hit.

Carlberg pitched well but his line doesn't show it as he pitched four innings allowing 7 earned runs on 9 hits. The left-hander did not issue a walk and was able to record two strikeouts.

Montello finished the game going 2-for-3 with two runs scored while junior Michael Scanlon (Plantsville, Conn.) added 2 RBI. Sophomore catcher David Feole (Scituate, RI) had a solid afternoon with a 2-for-4 showing at the dish.

Game Two: Suffolk University 5, Rivier University 0 (Final)

Junior Alex Mears (Salem, NH) allowed just three earned runs over five innings but the Raiders were unable to score a run in the 5-0 nightcap loss to Suffolk. The right-hander gave up just four hits and struck out five during his five innings of work.

Montello was once again the leader at the dish for Rivier as he went 2-for-2 with a walk. Freshman George Gouthier (Haverhill, Mass.) also had a two hit game in the loss.

Next up for the Raiders will be a pair of games on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings against Fisher College of Boston, Mass. Tuesday's game is scheduled for a 7pm start at Maplewood Park in Malden, Mass. and Wednesday is still on for 7pm at Fraser Field in Lynn, Mass.