Softball: Raiders split with Mount Ida

(Nashua, N.H.) The Rivier University Softball team split their Great Northeast Athletic Conference double-header this evening with Mount Ida College, dropping game one 5-1 before winning game two 8-0 on the turf at Raider Field. Rivier moves their overall record to 8-12 and are now 3-3 against the conference while the Mustangs slide to 4-12 overall, 2-4 in the GNAC.

Game One: Mount Ida College 5, Rivier University 1 (Final)

Junior Mikayla Ramsdell (Salem, N.H.) registered the Raiders' only hit as the Mustangs were able to limit Rivier to just one run in the first game of the double-header in a 5-1 decision in favor of Mount Ida.

Ramsdell's single came in the third inning as Mount Ida's Madeleine Smith spun a complete game allowing just one unearned run with six strikeouts and issued just two walks.

Savannah Neilan went 2-for-4 with three RBI and Shelby Nolan added a 2-for-3, one RBI evening at the dish to lead the Mustangs.

Freshman Kellie Kennedy (Hudson, N.H.) suffered the loss inside the circle as she allowed five runs (three earned) on ten hits while striking out six and issuing one walk over 5.2 innings of work. Sophomore Taylor Rowsell (Chelmsford, Mass.) finished the ball game giving up just one hit and striking out one.

Game Two: Rivier University 8, Mount Ida College 0 (Final/5 innings)

The Raider bats came alive in the nightcap as they scored eight runs on nine hits. However the story of the game was inside the circle as Rowsell spun a gem. The right-hander shutout the Mustangs over 4 innings of work allowing just four hits and striking out three while issuing two walks. Kennedy tossed a hitless fifth to ensure the mercy rule earned victory.

Sophomore Tayla LeGrand (Tewksbury, Mass.) and Rowsell each went 2-for-3 with two RBI and freshman Julia Dailey (Dracut, Mass.) added her own 2-for-3 night setting the table for the Raiders. Classmate Morgan Pratt (Pelham, N.H.) went 1-for-2 in the win as Rivier snapped a five-game losing streak against Mount Ida.
The Mustangs saw Carrigan Costello allow five runs on five hits in three innings to take the loss. Hannah Doherty gave up three runs on four hits as she spun the fourth inning. Alisa Benson, Hayley Microulis, Lindsay Finney and Kelsey Weston all reached base via a hit in the loss.
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Rivier will return to the field on Saturday afternoon as they host Albertus Magnus College. The GNAC double-header is slated to begin at 1pm. Mount Ida will host Anna Maria at 1pm on Saturday as well.