Baseball: Shirley's 2-run home run guides Rivier past Pine Manor, 14-12

Baseball: Shirley's 2-run home run guides Rivier past Pine Manor, 14-12

Story written and posted by Anthony Perry, Rivier University Sports Information Director

(Northboro, Mass.) The Rivier University Baseball team exploded for 14 runs this afternoon as they held on to earn a 14-12 non-conference contest over Pine Manor College at the New England Baseball Complex. The win lifts the Raiders to 3-8 on the season while the loss sets the Gators back to 0-2.

Rivier scored four runs each in the second, fourth and fifth innings as they took advantage of the 13 walks and six errors allowed by Pine Manor.

Senior Jorge Martinez (Methuen, Mass.) got the barrel party started as he laced his first home run of the year into the left-center snowbank which cut the deficit to 2-1 in the second inning. Martinez would also add to his RBI total in the fifth inning when lined a two-run double into the left-center gap as he finished the afternoon going 3-for-5 with 3 RBI, a solo HR and a double.

Freshman Jalen Shirley (Fishers, Ind.) provided much needed insurance in the top of the eighth inning as he blasted a two-run bomb to centerfield, his first collegiate home run which gave the Raiders a 14-9 lead.

Pine Manor would fight back in the bottom of the ninth plating three runs but freshman Brandon Kelly (Lincoln, R.I.) was able to retire the final hitter to preserve the third win of the season for Rivier.

Freshman Jake Mainey (Merrimack, N.H.) earned his first collegiate victory as he pitched 3.1 innings of relief allowing two runs on three hits and striking out two. Kelly earned the save as he spun the final three frames giving up four runs (two earned) on two hits.

Shirley finished the afternoon going 2-for-3 with a home run, 3 runs scored, 3 RBI and a stolen base. Senior Brandon Thibault also chipped in with a two hit game as he ended the afternoon going 2-for-5 with 3 RBI and two runs scored.

For Pine Manor, Terry Daniels went 2-for-5 with four runs scored and two doubles while Evan Reynolds finished 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles and a RBI. Eduary Baez totaled three hits on the afternoon and Cedrick Pena blasted a towering solo shot on his 2-for-5 showing at the dish. Saul Oquendo suffered the loss in relief as he allowed four runs (two earned) on two hits and walked three.

Next up for the Raiders will be another non-conference contest on Tuesday afternoon as they travel to Worcester, Mass. for a 3pm affair with Clark University. Pine Manor will return to action tomorrow afternoon with a double-header at Saint Joseph's College (Brooklyn, N.Y.).