Softball: Ramsdell, Raiders earn first win on last day in Fort Myers

(Fort Myers, Fla.) The Rivier University Softball team closed out their 10-game road trip to beautiful Fort Myers with their first win of the season as they split their final double-header of the week. The Raiders fell victim in game one to Edgewood, 10-0 in five innings before besting Brockport State 6-4 in the finale. Rivier is now 1-9 as they travel back home to the northeast and get ready for a four-game set with Fisher College next weekend.

Game One: Edgewood College 10, Rivier University 0 (Final/5-innings)

The Raiders managed just four hits in the opening game of the day as Edgewood plated runs in the first, second and fourth to earn the 10-0 win.

Freshman Julia Dailey (Dracut, Mass.) reached base both times at the plate as she went 1-for-1 with a walk and junior Kasey Smith (Hopkinton, N.H.) went 1-for-2 in the loss. Sophomore Tayla LeGrand (Tewksbury, Mass.) and freshman Katie Welch (Wilmington, Mass.) also collected hits for Rivier.

Sophomore Kendall Liggett (Litchfield, N.H.) suffered the loss inside the circle as she allowed six runs (all earned) on four hits in an inning pitched. Junior Kerri Hegarty (Tewksbury, Mass.) and sophomore Taylor Rowsell (Chelmsford, Mass.) finished out the ballgame for the Raiders.

For Edgewood, Shannon Whitmus pitched four scoreless innings and Maddy Coppens cleaned up the fifth for the win. Jordan Anderson knocked home three RBI on her 2-for-3 showing at the dish and Callie Ziegler also went 2-for-3 in the victory.

Game Two: Rivier University 6, Brockport State University 4 (Final)

Rivier held off a late rally from Brockport to earn their first win of the season, 6-4. Brockport scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh on a home-run from Meghan Cullen but Rowsell was able to come in relief and shut the door to secure the win.

Freshman Kellie Kennedy (Hudson, N.H.) was outstanding inside the circle for the Raiders. The rookie right-hander dazzled through 6.1 innings allowing four runs (all earned) on 12 hits without issuing a free pass. Rowsell then picked up her first career save as she tossed the final 0.2 innings allowing just one hit.

Junior Mikayla Ramsdell (Salem, N.H.) was the offensive star for Rivier as she went 3-for-5 with two runs scored while finishing a homer shy of the cycle. Smith also collected three hits and Dailey went a perfect 2-for-2 as the Raiders pounded out 12 hits.

The Golden Eagles were saw three student-athletes record multi-hit games but the big hit came from Cullen in the seventh, a three-run home run to close the deficit to two. Penny Leanard went 3-for-3 with the other RBI in the loss and Amanda Colon was credited with the loss as she pitched 4 innings allowing two runs on six hits and striking out five.