Baseball wins fourth straight, tops Gallaudet 10-7

(Waldorf, Maryland) The Rivier University Baseball team used a four run sixth inning as they held on to defeat Gallaudet University, 10-7 this evening inside Regency Furniture Stadium. The win is the second in as many nights for the Raiders after they defeated Saint Mary's College last night, 5-1 at the home of the Independent Atlantic League's Southern Maryland Blue Crabs.

Rivier, winners of four straight, are now 4-11 on the season while the Bison dip to 4-17.

The Raiders scored in the top of the first and jumped out to an 8-2 lead before Gallaudet battled back and brought it with in one. Two insurance runs in the eighth and a stellar relief job by senior Spencer Aguiar (Malden, Mass.) allowed River to finish 2-0 on the week.

Senior Edward Soucie (South Ryegate, Vt.) was credited with the win as he tossed 5.2 innings allowing seven runs on nine hits. The veteran right-hander was brilliant through the first five innings as he held the Bison offense in check – two runs over that span. Soucie ran into trouble in the sixth after a few Rivier defensive miscues helped Gallaudet climb back into the game. With the tying run on second base, Aguiar came into the game and was able to leave the tying run stranded at third to escape the jam. He then proceed to retire the final nine hitters he faced to earn his second save of the season.

Senior Taylor Black (West Springfield, Mass.) went 3-for-5 and freshman Brandon Thibault (Methuen, Mass.) added a pair of RBI on his 2-for-4 night to lead the Raider offense. Sophomore Tyler Ferdinand (Middleboro, Mass.) and freshman Jorge Martinez (Methuen, Mass.) each contributed two hits on the evening and senior Jeremy Ball (Swanzey, N.H.) chipped in with two RBI for Rivier.

This marks the second consecutive win over Gallaudet for the Raiders after they defeated the Bison, 4-2 last season in this same ballpark.

Ian Evans suffered the loss and Kyle Gumm went 2-for-5 with two RBI, as did Cameron Upton, to lead Gallaudet.

The Raiders will travel back to New England as they get set for a four game week to close out the month of March. Rivier will be at Fitchburg State University on Monday afternoon for a 3pm start.