Baseball splits GNAC opener with Anna Maria

(Nashua, N.H.) The Rivier University Baseball team salvaged a split in the teams' opening Great Northeast Athletic Conference contests this afternoon against Anna Maria College at Harvey Woods Field. The Raiders move to 6-14 on the season and 1-1 in the conference while the Amcats are now 4-18, 1-1 GNAC.

Game One: Anna Maria College 7, Rivier University 6 (Final)

A six run third inning, highlighted by a grand slam from senior Matthew Leahey (Rutland, Mass.), was just enough for the Amcats as a late rally Rivier came up short in the first game of the GNAC twin-bill.

The Raiders came out and put up a pair of runs in the first two innings to take a 4-1 lead heading into the third. With the bases loaded and nobody out, Leahey drilled an offering from Rivier senior Nicholas Pica (Derry, N.H.) to left field and it had just enough distance for his second home run and put Anna Maria ahead for good.

Rivier battled back with a rally of their own in the seventh inning. However, with the tying run at second base, freshman Daniel Chambers (Westfield, Mass.) was able to strike out the final hitter and preserve the 7-6 win.

Pica (2-2) finished the afternoon tossing a complete game allowing seven runs (six earned) on seven hits and striking out three. Junior Jacob Rayner (Billerica, Mass.) went 3-for-4 with a RBI and classmate Adam Arkell (Dover, N.H.) added a 2-for-2 performance to highlight the Raider offense. Sophomore Tyler Ferdinand (Middleboro, Mass.) had a solid first game as he went 2-for-3 with three stolen bases and a RBI.

Anna Maria saw sophomore Tanner Jakola (Leominster, Mass.) earn his second win (2-2) with six innings of work. The right-hander allowed six runs on eleven hits while striking out two. Chambers relieved junior James Marcello (Mansfield, Mass.) and retired the only two batters he faced for his first save.

Game Two: Rivier University 1, Anna Maria College 0 (Final)

Senior Taylor Black's (West Springfield, Mass.) RBI single to center that plated Ferdinand was all that senior Edward Soucie (South Ryegate, Vt.) would need as the Raiders salvaged a double-header split with Anna Maria, 1-0 in game two.

Soucie was electric all night. The veteran right-hander spun a complete game, three-hitter with seven strikeouts. He carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning before freshman Nick Feola (North Providence, R.I.) broke it up with a single to right.

The Raiders managed just four hits off Amcat starter Leahey. Leahey also went the distance with 6 innings pitched – allowing just the one earned run and striking out seven batters as well. Freshman Matt Elliott (Attleboro, Mass.) joined Feola as the only ones to record hits off Soucie.

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Rivier will have a quick turnaround as they travel to Standish, Maine tomorrow morning for a 12pm GNAC Double-Header with Saint Joseph's College. The Amcats will not return to action until Wednesday afternoon when the host Becker College at the New England Baseball Complex (3pm).