Baseball prevails over Emerson, holds on for a 4-3 victory

(Brockton, Mass.) Senior Jeremy Ball (Swanzey, N.H.) launched a go-ahead solo home run in the 7th inning this afternoon as the Rivier University Baseball team earned their second win in as many games with a 4-3 triumph over Emerson College at Campanelli Stadium. The home run was the first in the career for Ball who lifted the Raiders to 2-11 overall on the season. Emerson, on the other hand, falls to 3-8.

Rivier got the scoring started early as senior Taylor Black (West Springfield, Mass.) doubled home sophomore Tyler Ferdinand (Middleboro, Mass.) and freshman David Pappalardo (Methuen, Mass.) plated Black to give the visitors the quick 2-0 lead.

Emerson stuck back in the home half of the second when Steven Cameron scampered across on Neil Perry's ground out. The score would remain 2-1 until the Lions capitalized on a bases loaded walk issued to Pablo Feldman in the fifth inning.

That would be the end of the afternoon for Rivier starting pitcher, senior Matthew Keefe (Bradford, Mass.). The veteran right-hander allowed two unearned runs over five innings of work while giving up five hits and striking out one. Classmate Spencer Aguiar (Malden, Mass.) tossed the final four frames for the Raiders.

With the score tied 2-2 in the 7th, Ball stepped up to the plate and launched a two-strike pitch from Cal Laird over the right field wall to put Rivier in the lead. Junior Jacob Rayner (Billerica, Mass.) then added an RBI double in the eighth for a much needed insurance run off Emerson reliever Clint Fontanella.

The Lions did not go down quietly as they were able to touch up Aguiar in the final frame for a run to get it within 4-3. However, Aguiar was able to strikeout the final batter with runners on second and third to preserve the win for Rivier.

Aguiar earned the win in relief and is now 1-2 on the season after pitching four innings and allowing one unearned run on three hits and striking out five. Laird suffered the loss for Emerson and falls to 0-3 on the year.

Rivier will enjoy a few days off before boarding a bus and head southward to Waldorf, Maryland for a pair of night games against Saint Mary's College of Maryland (Thu) and Gallaudet University (Fri) at Regency Furniture Stadium. Both games will have both live stats and video, courtesy of Rivier University Athletics.