Softball: Streak snapped at 7 as Raiders fall at Norwich

(Northfield, Vt.) The Rivier University Softball team's seven game winning streak came to a halt this afternoon as they dropped both ends of a Great Northeast Athletic Conference double-header at Norwich University, 3-2 & 6-2. The losses send the Raiders to an overall record of 7-11 as they even out a 2-2 in the conference while the Cadets improve to 2-4, 2-2 GNAC.

Game One: Norwich University 3, Rivier University 2 (FINAL)

An RBI single from Naomi Rinaldo in the bottom of the seventh lifted the Cadets to a walk-off win against the Raiders in the opener of the day's double-header. It also snapped the seven-game win streak Rivier had coming into the contest.

Freshman Kellie Kennedy (Hudson, N.H.) pitched well over four innings of work as she limited Norwich to just two runs on six hits while striking out three. Sophomore Taylor Rowsell (Chelmsford, Mass.) spun the final 2.2 innings allowing an unearned run on two hits and also retiring three by way of the K.

Offensively the Raiders mustered six hits off of Emily Oliver, who earned the complete game win with 10 strikeouts. Junior Mikayla Ramsdell (Salem, N.H.) went 2-for-3 with a runs scored and Rowsell knocked home a pair on her 1-for-3 showing at the plate.

Noriwch's Katie Reed went a perfect 3-for-3 with an RBI to pace the Cadets while Sarah Perry also recorded an RBI base knock in the contest.

Game Two: Norwich University 6, Rivier University 2 (FINAL)

A four-run fourth was all that Norwich needed as they went on the defeat Rivier, 6-2 in the nightcap.

The Raiders pounded out seven hits on the night, highlighted by two-hit nights from Ramsdell and sophomore Tayla LeGrand (Tewksbury, Mass.). Senior Evelyn Susko (Hudson, N.H.) also contributed with a pair of singles as she finished 2-for-4.

Sophomore Courtney Trahan (Brooklyn, Conn.) suffered the loss inside the circle as she pitched three plus innings allowing five runs on eight hits. Rowsell and Kennedy then tossed the final three frames allowing just one run.

Perry was effective inside the circle for Norwich as her complete-game effort limited the Raiders to just two runs on seven hits while striking out four. At the plate, Perry went 4-for-4 with a RBI and Rinaldo added a 3-for-4, two RBI night to lead the Cadets to victory.

Rivier will enjoy the Easter Weekend off before getting ready to host Albertus Magnus College next Saturday (4/7) beginning at 1pm.