Baseball: Way, Raiders earn 8-4 win over Pine Manor

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

(Nashua, N.H.) The Rivier University Baseball team christened Historic Holman Stadium with an 8-4 non-conference win over visiting Pine Manor College this evening under the bright lights. The win lifts the Raiders to 7-21 on the season and earned the season series win (2-1) over the Gators, who fell to 5-16.

Pine Manor jumped out to an early 1-0 lead as Jeremy Soulinthone (Murrieta, Calif.) drew a bases-loaded two-out walk against Raider freshman starter Jake Mainey (Merrimack, N.H.). Rivier answered right back in the home half of the inning on their own bases-loaded free pass as senior Jorge Martinez (Methuen, Mass.) plated junior Eric Maxfield (Lowell, Mass.) to even the score at one.

The Raiders then tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the third inning. Martinez laced a one-out ground rule double to left and scored on freshman Anthony Mele (Nashua, N.H.) RBI double to center that land just in front of the outstretched centerfielder. Mele then scampered home to make it 3-1 on classmate Giovanni Covino (Methuen, Mass.) RBI base-hit.

Pine Manor would answer right back in the top of the fourth as they plated two runs to make a 3-3 contest. After a run scored on a wild pitch, the Gators loaded the bases with one out before Rivier sophomore Cameron Way (El Cajon, Calif.) was summoned from the pen and got Isaiah Mack (Montville, Conn.) to hit into a 4-3 RBI ground out and then retired the side as the following hitter also grounded into a 4-3 putout to end the threat and inning.

Way would settle things down and continue to post zeros over the next three frames while the Raider offense took the lead for good by scoring two runs in the fifth and sixth innings and then added a run in the seventh.

The Gators would threaten in the top of the ninth as they got the first two runs aboard but freshman Corey Cochran (Salem, N.H.) slammed the door shut by getting a pop-out and a fielder's choice to give the Raiders their seventh win of the season.

Way earned his first collegiate win by throwing 3.2 innings of scoreless baseball allowing just two hits while striking out two. Mainey allowed three runs (all earned) on four hits while walking seven and striking out four and Cochran recorded his first career save with his outing.

Offensively for Rivier they were led by Martinez who finished the night going 2-for-3 with three runs scored, two walks and a RBI. Mele also recorded two hits as he went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI while Maxfield set the table by going 1-for-2 with three runs scored and two walks.

Ronnie Thomas (Albany, N.Y.) led the Gators as he went 3-for-6 with a run scored and Jorvi Jimenez (Providence, R.I.) added a 2-for-4, run scored performance in the loss. Tim Martin was credited with the loss on the mound as he allowed seven runs (five earned) on seven hits over 5.2 innings of work. Lorenzo Pantaleo (Boston, Mass.) surrendered one run on two hits and two strikeouts before Joe Mello (Westerly, R.I.) pitched a scoreless ninth retiring two Raiders by way of the k.

Rivier will return to Great Northeast Athletic Conference action this weekend as they travel to Lasell College on Saturday afternoon for a 3pm double-header start time. The Raiders will also return to Historic Holman Stadium on Sunday afternoon as they entertain Saint Joseph's College (Maine) for a 1pm GNAC twin-bill. Pine Manor will also be in action this weekend as they travel to Fraser Field in Lynn, Mass. for a four-game set with Fisher College. Game one is scheduled for Saturday afternoon at 3pm.