Medeiros and the Raiders earn two wins over New England College

(Malden, MA) The Rivier University Baseball team completed the double-header sweep of New England College this evening as they took the two games by scores of 8-4 and 7-2.

Game One: Rivier 8, New England 4

Sophomore Bryar King's (Berlin, NH) RBI single with the bases loaded in the 7th pushed the Raiders back in front as they held on for an 8-4 non-conference victory over New England College.

The Raiders crossed the plate in the third inning when freshman Jeremy Ball (Swanzey, NH) lifted a sacrifice fly to center that plated classmate Marc Medeiros (Arlington, MA). Rivier pushed across two more runs in the fourth as Medeiros singled home King and freshman Austin Biery (Raymond, NH) scored on a balk. The Raiders would add another run in the fifth when senior John DiBenedetto (Tampa, FL) knocked in Ball, who began the inning with a double.

Rivier held a 4-0 advantage before the Pilgrims tied things up in the bottom of the sixth. Sophomore Lucas Palma (Bristol, CT) entered the ballgame with the score tied and was able to prevent further damage as he retired the only batter he faced.

Senior Aramis Velez (Lowell, MA) led off the seventh with a walk and was promptly lifted for a pinch runner, freshman Frederick O'Brien (South Boston, MA). After a single by DiBenedetto and a walk issued to sophomore Michael Scanlon (Plantsville, CT), King then flared a ball into shallow right-center to give Rivier a 5-4 lead. Biery then singled home Scanlon to increase the Raider lead before Medeiros struck for a 2 RBI single past the diving first baseman.

Freshman Jon Chotkowski (Tewksbury, MA) then struck out the side in the bottom of the seventh to give Rivier the 8-4 victory.

Palma earned his first collegiate victory on the mound in relief and Medeiros finished 2-for-3 with 3 RBI to lead the Raider offense. Biery and DiBenedetto also collected two hits apiece in the win.

Game Two: Rivier 7, New England College 2

The hot bats continued right from the start in game two for Rivier as they plated five runs in the top half of the first en route to a 7-2 win.

Senior Kyle Bowser (Newington, NH) laced the second pitch he saw into the left-center gap for a leadoff double and came around to score on a bases loaded, 2 RBI single from DiBenedetto. Velez – who reached on a HBP – crossed the plate to make it 3-0 on a double play ball before Biery singled home DiBenedetto. Medeiros would then bring home Biery on a base knock of his own to give River starting pitcher, junior Gabe May (Portsmouth, NH) all the support he would need.

Velez had a 2 RBI double in the sixth to account for all of the Rivier offense in the game.

May tossed a complete game (7 innings) four hitter, allowing just two runs while striking out six. The victory is May's second of the season and is now 2-0.

Rivier (3-12 overall) will enjoy four days off before they open up Great Northeast Athletic Conference play with a double-header at Anna Maria College on Wednesday, April 3rd.