Softball storms back for GNAC split with Emmanuel

(Nashua, N.H.) The Rivier University Softball team rallied for eight runs in the fifth inning of game two to salvage a Great Northeast Athletic Conference split with visiting Emmanuel College at Raider Field on Wednesday evening. The Raiders suffered a 5-3 setback in the first game of the twin-bill before exploding for 11 runs and winning game two, 11-3 in five innings. Rivier is now 4-8 on the season with a 1-3 conference mark. Emmanuel slides to 9-8 overall and 1-1 in the GNAC.

Game One: Emmanuel College 5, Rivier University 3 (Final)

Two late sixth inning runs by Emmanuel was the difference as the Saints won the opening game of the evening's double-header, 5-3.

Sophomore Tori Dugan (Norwalk, Conn.) went 2-for-3 from the leadoff spot and junior Jessica Cote (Nashua, N.H.) added two RBI on her 1-for-3 night to pace the Raider offense. Cote laced a RBI triple in the first inning to tie the game at 1-1 and then lifted a sacrifice fly in the fifth to bring Rivier within one at 3-2. Freshman Mikayla Ramsdell (Salem, N.H.) also went 1-for-3 in the opener.

Senior Jessica Shanahan (Merrimack, N.H.) tossed a complete game she went all seven innings allowing five runs on ten hits while striking out three.

Sophomore Abbey Alexiades knocked in a pair of runs for Emmanuel and senior Kerrianne Vulpis (East Rockaway, N.Y.) went a perfect 2-for-2 with a RBI to lead the Saints offensive effort. Junior Jill Kilcoyne (Worcester, Mass.) spun five innings giving up just three runs on three hits while striking out seven. Freshman Megan Kieselback (Wethersfield, Conn.) was able to work out of a sixth inning jam to preserve the win and earn the save with two innings of one-hit ball.

Senior Catherine Davis (Wethersfield, Conn.) and freshman Ashley Skey (Brookline, N.H.) also contributed with two-hit games in the win.

Game Two: Rivier University 11, Emmanuel College 3 (Final)

Senior Taylor Miller (Haverhill, Mass.) was magnificent as she kept the Saints bats at bay as the Raider offense exploded for 10 hits in the 11-3, mercy shortened final game of the double-header. The veteran right-hander toss all five innings allowing just three runs (two earned) on four hits and retiring two by way of the K.

Rivier was able to take advantage of some Emmanuel miscues to score eight runs in the final frame.

Junior Shaylyn Freitas (Pelham, N.H.) led the way with a 2-for-4 RBI night, including a game ending bases clearing triple. Both Ramsdell and Cote finished with 2-for-3 nights and Dugan scored three runs. Senior Samantha Verney (Goffstown, N.H.) and freshman Evelyn Susko (Hudson, N.H.) added 1-for-2 showings in the team's first conference win of the season.

Emmanuel freshman Olivia Burgos (Newington, Conn.) was the tough luck victim as she allowed just three earned runs (eight total) over 4.2 innings of work on eight hits. Kieselback gave up two hits and three runs in the four batters she faced in relief without recording an out during the fifth inning.

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The Raiders will be back in action on Saturday afternoon as they travel to Providence, R.I. for a GNAC double-header with Johnson & Wales University. Game one is set to begin at 12pm. Emmanuel will also return to the diamond on Saturday as they travel across town to Suffolk University for a GNAC twin-bill beginning at 12pm.