Baseball splits DH with JWU; first win over Wildcats since '08

(Providence, Rhode Island) The Rivier University Baseball team earned an important Great Northeast Athletic Conference victory this evening as they came from behind to defeat Johnson and Wales University, 5-4 in game two of the night's double-header. JWU took the win in game one by a 13-9 final.

The win marked the first time that Rivier beat the Wildcats since, ironically enough, April 6, 2008 – also a 5-4 final. The Raiders are now 6-12 overall on the season and move to 2-4 in conference play. JWU remains even at 8-8 overall and 2-2 GNAC.

Game One: Johnson and Wales University 13, Rivier University 9 (Final)

Rivier plated three runs in the first inning but it wasn't enough as the Wildcats went on to win the ballgame 13-9.

The game started out promising for the Raiders as junior Taylor Black (West Springfield, Mass.) tripled in both seniors JJ Montello (Nashua, N.H.) and David Cusack (Newburyport, Mass.) to give Riv a 2-0 lead. Black would scamper across the plate on junior Jeremy Ball (Swanzey, N.H.) RBI ground out as the Raiders claimed a 3 run advantage after the first inning.

JWU would get to junior starting pitcher Matthew Keefe (Bradford, Mass.) as they scored 10 runs on 12 hits in 3 1/3 innings.

Ball finished the game going 2-for-4 with a RBI and two runs scored. Montello was also 2-for-4 with two runs scored and sophomore Adam Arkell (Dover, N.H.) added a RBI single in the defeat.

Game Two: Rivier University 5, Johnson & Wales University 4 (Final)

Junior David Feole (Scituate, R.I.) belted his first career home run to lead off the sixth inning and Montello followed with a go ahead RBI triple as Rivier came from behind to earn the 5-4 win in game two.

Trailing 4-3, the junior designated hitter lifted a 2-0 offering deep into the cold night to provide a timely spark for the Raiders. Junior Marc Medeiros (Arlington, Mass.) was hit by a pitch and on the next pitch Montello laced the game winning triple down the left field line that allowed Medeiros to score.

Senior Alex Mears (Salem, N.H.) was absolutely lights out in relief. The right-hander tossed 3 2/3 innings without allowing a hit and striking out seven, including the final hitter, to earn his second win of the season.

Feole finished the evening going 2-for-4 with 3 RBI. Montello went 1-for-3 with a RBI and Cusack went 1-for-2 with a run scored.

Rivier will have two days off before returning to action on Thursday night as they travel to play Fisher College in a non-conference contest beginning at 7pm.