Pica, Raiders outduel Owls in Home Opener

(Nashua, NH) In the 2013 home opener, the Rivier University Baseball team outpitched the University of Maine – Presque Isle Owls tonight as the won 2-1 in front of about 100 people inside of Historic Holman Stadium.

Freshman Nicholas Pica (Hampstead, NH) was every bit as effective as the right hander only allowed four hits while striking out six over his six innings of work. Classmate Edward Soucie (South Ryegate, VT) and sophomore Lucas Palma (Bristol, CT) each tossed scoreless frames as they earned holds before sophomore Jesse Turcotte (Tyngsboro, MA) got the save after giving up a run in the ninth.

Senior Aramis Velez (Lowell, MA) was the offensive star as he went 3-for-4 and narrowly missed hitting his first HR of the season as the ball fell short by two feet in left-center. Senior John DiBenedetto (Tampa, FL) and freshman Jeremy Ball (Swanzey, NH) each recorded RBI for the Raiders.

The Owls receive a terrific pitching performance from Adam Geel (Calais, ME). The freshman right-hander tossed 7.2 innings allowing just two earned runs while striking out six. Junior Ryan Thompson (East Millinocket, ME) was to finish off the eighth inning as he struck out the only batter he faced.

Offensively Me-Presque Isle was led by senior Carlos Villoria (Caracas, Venezuela) and freshman Tanner Marshall (Cleburne, TX) who each had two-hit nights. Sophomore Andrew Carter (Carlo, New Brunswick) and junior Alex Csiernik (Hamilton, Ontario) each added hits for the Owls.

Rivier will return to action tomorrow afternoon as they host Emerson College in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference double-header. Game time scheduled for 1:05pm and the games will be played at Daniel Webster College. Maine-Presque Isle will travel to Lynn, Massachusetts and face Fisher College in a four game set with the first two tomorrow afternoon.