Baseball Splits with Albertus to Start GNAC Play

HAMDEN, CT: Rivier baseball opened conference play by dropping both contests to Albertus Magnus this afternoon.

THE BASICS:

- Date: 3/27/23

- Score: AMC 9, Rivier 4. Rivier 7, AMC 5

- Records: AMC (5-7, 1-1 GNAC), Rivier (4-11, 1-1 GNAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED: Game One

-  Game one opened with the Falcons pushing three runs across in the opening frame. Shawn Smith delivered the three runs on one swing of the bat going deep to right field. Albertus would tack in one more in the top of the second on a walk with the bases loaded.

- The Raiders responded with a three run inning of their own in the bottom of the third. Their first run came on a fielder's choice, followed by a Patrick Young (Billerica, MA) double that would plate another. The final run in the inning was Young himself stealing home to make it a 4-3 game.

- The very next inning, Albertus would plate another three runs to push their lead back to four runs at 7-3. Sean Jefferson came up with a single to right field to plate the first run of the inning. After one scored on a throwing error by the Raiders defense, Smith again delivered with another single up the middle to pick up his fourth RBI of the game.

- Rivier would plate one more on a fielding error by the Falcons. Albertus would add two more insurance runs in the seventh to get the final of 9-4.

- Justin Marks picked up the win (3-1) after going 5.2 innings allowing just four hits and three earned. In the outing, Marks struck out 10 Rivier hitters. Wesly Martinez (Methuen, MA) was tagged with the loss after pitching four innings, giving up seven hits, five earned runs, and five strikeouts.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS: Top Performers

-  Smith was 2-for-3 with 4 RBIs, 1 run scored, and a 3-run home run.

-  Jefferson was 3-for-3 with 2 RBIs and 2 runs scored.

-  Young was 1-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.

HOW IT HAPPENED: Game Two

-  The Raiders would bring a 3-0 lead into the sixth inning after a Louis Tejada (Methuen, MA) sacrifice fly in the second inning, a Young RBI on an errant throw by the Falcons shortstop, and another Young triple to center field.

-  Albertus would bring the game within one in the top of the sixth with a two-run inning. Smith would add to his daily RBI total with another home run, and this one was a two-run shot to right field. Dylan Aliberti (Sandown, NH) would put the Raiders back up 4-2 in the bottom of the frame with a single.  

- Jefferson would bring the Falcons back within one again with a single to right field in the seventh inning. Tejada would put two more on the board with a double to left field. Jacob Plamondon (Manchester, NH) would add the final run for the Raiders later in the inning on a single to right field.

- Albertus would score the last two runs of the game, bringing them within two and getting the final. Ron Losacano got the eighth inning started with a single to third base to bring one in. Jason Sullivan would bring in the last run of the game on a fielding error.

- Nate Bonacorsi (Goffstown, NH) got the win (1-0) in this one going five innings, allowing just three hits, two earned runs, and six strikeouts. Christian Corliss was tagged with the loss (1-1) after pitching 5.2 innings allowing four hits, three earned, and two strikeouts.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS: Top Performers

-  Young was 1-for-5 with 2 RBIs and a triple

-  Tejada was 1-for-3 with 3 RBIs, a double, and a sac fly

-  Smith was 2-for-4 with 2 RBIs and a home run.

UP NEXT:

- Rivier baseball will be back against Gordon on Thursday at 3 pm.

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