Baseball: Martinez smacks second HR; Raiders fall twice to AMCATS

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

(Northborough, Mass.) The Rivier University Baseball team suffered a pair of setbacks this morning against Anna Maria College, 4-1 & 6-2, in Great Northeast Athletic Conference action at the New England Baseball Complex. The Raiders are now 7-29 overall on the season with a 1-11 mark against conference foes while the AMCATS improve to 14-22 overall and 5-9 in the GNAC.

Game One: Anna Maria College 4, Rivier University 1 (Final)

Freshman Corey Cochran (Salem, N.H.) pitched a complete game as the Raiders fell in the opener, 4-1. The rookie right-hander allowed all four runs (all earned) on ten hits while striking out three as his record fell to 2-4 on the season.

Junior Tyler Jackson (Hyde Park, Mass.) went a perfect 3-for-3 at the dish and senior David Pappalardo (Methuen, Mass.) plated the only run as he finished 0-for-1 with the RBI. Senior Brandon Thibault (Methuen, Mass.), junior Eric Maxfield (Lowell, Mass.) and sophomore Frederick Kazalski (Dracut, Mass.) recorded the other base hits for the Raiders in the loss.

AMCATS starter Jack Marzec improved to 3-2 with his six innings of work allowing one run (unearned) on six hits and striking out seven. Liam Cunningham picked up his fifth save as he tossed a hitless seventh. Jason Shell and Kosta Drosidis each knocked home two RBI and four other AMCATS totaled two hits each in the opener.

Game Two: Anna Maria College 6, Rivier University 2 (Final)

Senior Jorge Martinez (Methuen, Mass.) and junior Alex Divito (Arlington, Mass.) went back-to-back with solo homers in the sixth inning however the Raiders dropped the back end of the double-header to Anna Maria, 6-2.

Both shots were hit over the left-field bullpen off of Anna Maria starter Adam Twitchell. Twitchell earned the win despite giving up the two home runs as he pitched 5.2 innings surrendering two runs (both earned) on six hits while striking out two. Cunningham then finished the ballgame allowing just one hit and striking out one.

Rivier starter Ryan Schaefer (Everett, Mass.) battled all afternoon as he tossed four innings giving up five runs (three earned) on eleven hits. Freshman Brandon Kelly (Lincoln, R.I.) tied the career appearances mark with 19 as he allowed one run (earned) on two hits and sophomore Cam Way (El Cajon, Calif.) spun a scoreless seventh.

Offensively the Raiders pounded out seven hits led by Cochran's 3-for-4 showing at the plate. Martinez finished 2-for-3 with the HR and RBI and freshman Giovanni Covino (Methuen, Mass.) went 1-for-3. Divito's pinch-hit home run was the other Rivier hit in the contest.
Anna Maria was led by Drosidis, who went 3-for-3 and Shell added a 2-for-2 night. Greg Gehring knocked home two RBI as he went 2-for-3 and Jake Crevier also had a multi-hit game finishing 2-for-4.
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The Raiders will enjoy the long weekend off for the Easter holiday before they prepare to face Lesley University on Tuesday (4/23) night under the lights at Historic Holman Stadium. The non-conference contest is set to begin at 7pm.