Chotkowski, Raiders split GNAC Double-Header with Emerson College

(Nashua, NH) The Rivier University Baseball team got a complete game effort out of freshman starting pitcher Jon Chotkowski (Tewksbury, MA) as the Raiders took down Emerson College 10-3 in game one of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference double-header before falling in the nightcap, 7-5.

Game One: Rivier University 10, Emerson College 3 (Final)

Chotkowski allowed just three earned runs and six hits while striking out nine as the freshman earned his first collegiate win as Rivier coasted to a 10-3 win over Emerson College.

Senior John DiBenedetto (Tampa, FL) plated the game's first run as his two-out RBI single allowed classmate Kyle Bowser (Newington, NH) to touch the plate.

Rivier would score runs in every inning except the third as they earned their first GNAC win of the season and fifth overall.

DiBenedetto went 3-for-4 with a RBI and Bowser finished game one going 1-for-4 with 2 RBI to pace to offensive attack for the Raiders. Sophomore Bryar King (Berlin, NH) and freshmen Jeremy Ball (Swanzey, NH) and Austin Biery (Raymond, NH) all collected two hits in the victory.

Emerson was led by Johnny Hasney and Cal Ciarciass, who both recorded two hits. Steven Cameron also added three RBI as he was 1-for-2 with a sacrifice fly. Brandon Topp suffered the loss on the mound for the Lions.

Game Two: Emerson College 7, Rivier University 5 (Final)

The Raiders wasted a good performance from junior Gabe May (Portsmouth, NH) as the defense made three costly errors in the 7-5 nightcap loss to Emerson.

May pitched into the seventh inning but should've been pulled after the sixth. The right-hander allowed four earned runs (two of which came in the 7th) on six hits and struck out four. He allowed all seven runs the Lions would score.

DiBenedetto added two more hits in game two as did King but Rivier left eight runners on base in the loss. Both sophomore Michael Scanlon (Plantsville, CT) and freshman Taylor Black (West Springfield, MA) contributed with two RBI in the game.

Nick Kelly earned his first win of the season as he allowed five runs (three earned) over his 6 and 1/3 innings. Ciarciass came in with the tying run at the plate and was able to get a strike out and a groundout to preserve the win.

Zach Dean was credited with two RBI in the contest along with Cameron and Evan Johnson had two RBI doubles to lead the Lions to their first win of 2013.

Both teams will be back in GNAC action tomorrow as the Raiders will welcome Suffolk University to Historic Holman Stadium for a 1:05 double-header. Emerson will host Norwich University beginning at 12pm.