Baseball: Raiders blank Pine Manor twice in double-header

(Northborough, Mass.) The Rivier University Baseball team picked up a pair of non-conference victories this afternoon as they swept Pine Manor College in a double-header held at the New England Baseball Complex in Northborough. The Raiders are now 4-10 on the season while the Gators fall to 2-7 in their inaugural season.

Rivier earned the victory in game one, 5-0 before claiming a 13-0 decision in game two. It was just the second time in the history of Rivier Baseball that the Raiders shutout their opponent in a double-header. The first and only other time came back on April 8, 2006 against Norwich University.

The Raiders will be back at it tomorrow morning as they host the University of Maine-Presque Isle over at Fraser Field in Lynn, Massachusetts. Game one of the non-conference twinbill is scheduled for 10am.

Game One: Rivier University 5, Pine Manor College 0 (FINAL)

Freshman Frederick Kazalski (Dracut, Mass.) blasted his first collegiate home run, a two-run shot in the second inning and sophomore Brandon Thibault (Methuen, Mass.) went 3-for-4 as the Raiders took the morning contest by a 5-0 final.

Kazalski's shot was a no-doubter as it gave Rivier an early 2-0 advantage they would not relinquish.

Freshman Zachery Rodrigues (Acushnet, Mass.) tossed a complete game shutout as the right-hander allowed just two hits and one walk while striking out seven for his third win of the season.

Geo Acevedo and Jesus Ortega collected the lone hits for Pine Manor and Joe Mello suffered the loss on the mound after pitching five innings while allowing five runs on seven hits.

Game Two: Rivier University 13, Pine Manor College 0 (FINAL)

Senior Tyler Ferdinand (Middleboro, Mass.) continues his blazing red hot start to the season in the second game as he finished 3-for-3 with four runs scored, a RBI and stolen base as the Raiders cruised to a 13-0 victory.

Sophomore Eric Maxfield (Lowell, Mass.) received his first collegiate start on the mound and did not disappoint as he tossed five shutout innings giving up just two hits and issuing one walk. Freshman Enrique Serrano (Saugus, Mass.) and sophomore Cameron Way (El Cajon, Calif.) each spun scoreless frames to complete the double-header sweep.

Thibault added a 2-for-4 afternoon and sophomore Brendan Sullivan (Manchester, N.H.) knocked in three RBI on his own 2-for-4 showing as the team recorded 12 hits. Freshman Dillon Brady (Middleboro, Mass.) chipped in with a 2-for-3 day at the dish and sophomore Alex DiVito (Somerville, Mass.) smacked his first collegiate base hit in the sixth.

Brian Jones, Ronnie Thomas and Isiah Mack each registered base hits for the Gators and Hugh Turner took the loss on the mound after giving up six runs on five hits. Lorenzo Pantaleo and Dante Cucuzza also pitched in relief for Pine Manor.
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