Baseball sweeps Anna Maria, finishes 8-6 in the GNAC

(Rindge, N.H.) The Rivier University Baseball team completed their portion of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference schedule this afternoon with a pair of wins over Anna Maria College, 4-1 and 8-0. The GNAC Double-Header was played at Franklin Pierce University and Anna Maria served as the home team for both contests. The wins bolster the Raiders' overall record to 13-17 and more importantly 8-6 in the GNAC. Anna Maria falls to 7-19, 2-12 GNAC.

Game One: Rivier University 4, Anna Maria College 1 (Final)

Junior Edward Soucie (South Ryegate, Vt.) scattered seven hits in his complete game effort as the Raiders took the opening game of the double-header. Soucie struck out three and allowed one unearned run as he improved his record to 3-2 on the season.

Rivier finally broke through in the top of the 6th when junior Taylor Black (West Springfield, Mass.) tripled home the tying run and classmate David Feole (Scituate, R.I.) plated the eventual game winner with his bases loaded single to left. Sophomore Adam Arkell (Dover, N.H.) capped the three run inning with a sacrifice fly to center.

Black finished the ball game going 2-for-4 with a run scored and RBI.

Anna Maria's Matthew Leahey suffered the loss after getting touched up for 2 runs in his brief appearance. Camden Frederick started the game and tossed 5.1 innings of three hit ball before being pulled.

Game Two: Rivier University 8, Anna Maria College 0 (Final)

Senior Lucas Palma (Bristol, Conn.) saw his no-hitter bid vanish with two outs in the top of the seventh as the Raiders finished off the double-header sweep with an 8-0 final. Palma spun 6.2 innings of no hit baseball before pinch hitter Shawn Callahan singled up the middle with two strikes. Palma then got the final out for his second consecutive GNAC complete game shutout to improve to 3-1 on the season.

Rivier scored in each of the first three innings to put the game out of reach early. Senior JJ Montello (Nashua, N.H.) went 3-for-3 from the leadoff spot with a pair of RBIs while Black finished 3-for-4 with 2 RBis and a solo homer in the 7th, his third of the season. Junior Jeremy Ball (Swanzey, N.H.) joined in on the fun as he went 2-for-4 with a RBI and Arkell added a pair of hits in the win.

Brendan Matthews took the loss for the AMCATS as he lasted only 2.2 innings, surrendering six runs on seven hits.

The Raiders will wait until tomorrow evening to learn where they will be seeded in the upcoming GNAC Post-Season and will most likely be on the road this Tuesday evening. This will be Rivier's first post season appearance since 2008.