Softball: Raiders drop two games to Blue Jays, 12-5 & 3-2.

Softball: Raiders drop two games to Blue Jays, 12-5 & 3-2.

Story written and posted by Hayden Barbosa, Rivier University Assistant Sports Information Director

(Nashua, N.H.) The Raiders dropped two conference matches against St. Joseph College Bluejays (CT).  These losses drop the Raiders to a 7-23 overall record and 3-11 within the GNAC.  The wins elevate the Bluejays to 21-15 and 10-2 in league play.

Game One: Rivier University 5, St. Joseph College 12 (Final)

The Bluejays scored first in the bottom of the first inning.  However, the Raiders struck back at the top of the third when freshman Sarah McCluskey (Lowell, Mass.) walked and Senior Casey Smith (Hopkinton, N.H.) singled off a bunt.  With runners on first and second sophomore Julia Daily (Dracut, Mass.) reached first on a fielders choice.  McCluskey was out at third. Then, senior Mikayla Ramsdell (Tewksbury, Mass.) smacked a double RBI sending Smith and Dailey home.  Greenleaf eventually singled sending sophmore Katie Welch (Wilmington, Mass.) to home plate for run number three of the inning. 

The Bluejays earned 5 more runs before the Raiders struck again in the fifth. Junior Taylor Legrand (Tewksbury, Mass.) doubled to center sending Welch home.  

The Raiders earned the last run of the game at the top of the sixth after Smith cranked one into left center for a double that sent McCluskey home.  

 

The Raiders showcased two pitchers, junior Courtney Trahan (Brooklyn, Conn.) and freshmen Sydney Greeno (Shirley, Mass.).  The each threw one strikeout apiece.

Game Two: Rivier University 2, St. Joseph College 3 (Final)

In game two of the double header the Bluejays earned thier first run in the second inning.  Senior Mikayla Ramsdell (Salem, N.H.) responded in the fourth with a homerun to tie it up.  This is the third homerun of the season for the senior.   The seventh inning the Raiders took advantage of a wild pitch. Junior Taylor Legrand (Tewksbury, Mass.) found herself on first after knocking one into right center pushing freshman Sarah McCluskey (Lowell, Mass.) to third base.  When freshman Nicole Capra (Lowell, Mass.) was at bat, Bluejays freshman pitcher Natalie Amato (Cheshire, Conn.) threw a wild pitch that sent McCluskey home to tie the game up at 2-2.

At the bottom of the same inning the Bluejays loaded the bases up when senior Issabella Russo (Southington, Conn.) cranked one into right center sending junior Bianca Pappacoda (East Haven, Conn.) home to end the game. 

Raiders sophomore pitcher Kellie Kennedy threw two strikeouts.  She is the current strikeout leader for the Raiders with a total of 58 strikeouts. The Hudson, N.H. native is currently second in the GNAC in the same category.  

Next up for the Raiders will be Thomas College at Rivier Universities Raider Field (turf).  The first pitch will be at 5pm on Tuesday, April 22nd.