Softball Splits With NEC In GNAC Opener

NASHUA, N.H. – The Rivier softball team opened up its Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) slate with a split with New England Col. on Monday night at Raider Diamond, winning the first game 1-0 before falling 8-6 in game two.

The Raiders moved to 8-8 (1-1 GNAC) while the Pilgrims now sit at 7-14 (1-3 GNAC).

Next up, Rivier will host Plymouth St. in a non-conference doubleheader on Wednesday, April 10 beginning at 4:00 p.m.

Rivier 1, New England Col. 0

It was a pitching duel in the conference opener, with Rivier's Hailey Berube and NEC's Olivia Olson each pitching shutouts late.

In the bottom of the seventh, Hayley Rapaglia came up with the bases loaded and no outs to provide a walk-off sacrifice fly.

Berube finished with a complete-game shutout, allowing just four hits and no walks while striking out two Pilgrims batters to improve to 5-1 on the season.

New England Col. 8, Rivier 6

NEC took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first on a two-RBI triple off the bat of Abigail Grimes. Rivier would get one back in the bottom half as Olivia Couto produced an RBI double.

The Raiders rallied for four runs in the bottom of the second to take a 5-2 lead. Amanda Atkinson, Hayleigh Silva, Kylee Caetano, and Kyleigh Burtsell each knocked in runs to give their team its first lead of the contest.

Over the next four innings, NEC would battle back to regain its lead.

Christina Panagiotopolous sliced a single through the right side to score Atkinson in the bottom of the seventh, tying the game at 6-6.

In the top of the seventh, the Pilgrims would score twice to take the lead for good and earn their first conference win of the campaign.

Caetano and Atkinson both finished 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored.