Baseball: Flanagan, Raiders fall to Salem State
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Rivier | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 5 |
|
Salem St. | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | X | 9 | 10 | 1 |
Story written and posted by Anthony Perry, Rivier University Sports Information Director
(Northborough, Mass.) The Rivier University Baseball team returned home from the sunshine state and began their New England portion of the schedule this afternoon with a 9-4 setback to Salem State University at the New England Baseball Complex in Northborough, Massachusetts. The loss sends the young Raider squad to 1-8 on the season while the Vikings even up at 1-1.
Freshman Corey Cochran (Salem, N.H.) blasted his first collegiate home run, a two-run shot in the seventh and senior Brett Iannazzo (Methuen, Mass.) went 2-for-4 with a double to lead the way offensively for Rivier. Junior Tyler Jackson (Hyde Park, Mass.) also chipped in with a 2-for-4 showing and freshman Anthony (A.J.) Mele (Nashua, N.H.) smacked his first career triple in the loss.
Senior right-hander Kyle Flanagan (Bradford, Mass.) suffered the loss (0-2) despite only allowing three earned runs over five innings on six hits. Freshman Dax Billingsley (Lynn, Mass.) and Brandon Kelly (Lincoln, R.I.) each spun a scoreless frame before sophomore Cameron Way (El Cajon, Calif.) surrendered two runs in the eighth.
For Salem State, junior Traverse Briana (Lynn, Mass.) went 3-for-4 with a two-run home run and a double to power the Viking offense. Juniors Kyle O'Connor (Lynn, Mass.) and Mike Griffin (Hudson, N.H.) also contributed with two hits apiece, including a solo home run from Griffin. Senior Andrew McLaughlin (Peabody, Mass.) earned the win on the hill as he tossed seven innings allowing three runs (two earned) on seven hits while striking out six. Sophomore Matthew Enos (Beverly, Mass.) registered the save getting out of a bases-loaded jam in the eighth on a strikeout and retiring the side in the ninth for Salem State's first victory of 2019.
Rivier will return to the diamond on Thursday afternoon as they travel to Saint John's Prep in Danvers, Massachusetts for a 3:30pm non-conference contest with Emerson College. Salem State will host Northern Vermont University-Lyndon for a double-header on Friday afternoon beginning at 12pm in their next scheduled contest.