Baseball Falls to Hilbert, 11-6

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The Rivier baseball team suffered an 11-6 setback in a non-conference clash against Hilbert on Thursday evening at Griffith Field at The Ripken Experience.

With the loss, the Raiders fell to 3-2 on the young season. The Hawks began their 2025 slate in the win column.

Senior Luis Tejada drove in the game's first run with a single up the middle, scoring classmate Kyle Hsu who had stolen second on the previous at bat. Hilbert threatened with a pair of runners in scoring position in the bottom half, but sophomore righty Chris Volino buckled down to strike out a pair of Hawks batters before getting an inning-ending flyout to center.

Following a scoreless second frame, Rivier doubled its lead as junior Nathan Innerfield continued his hot start at the plate with an RBI double down the left field line that scored Hsu from first.

Hilbert got even in the bottom of the fourth as Dustin Hendrix scored on a passed ball to make it 2-1 before Reed Lesmeister tied the game with an RBI single through the left side.

The Raiders responded with two runs in the top of the fifth as sophomore Sebastian Reis singled to center, bringing in Innerfield and Tejada from second and third. K Borrello sent a liner to left for an RBI double, but was picked off in between second and third after making it a 4-3 ballgame.

Hsu singled to right to push classmate Jacob Boudreau who had stolen second earlier in the at bat, giving Rivier a two-run cushion in the sixth. The Hawks' offense came alive in the bottom of the sixth, scoring five runs on five hits and a walk to take an 8-5 lead into the seventh.

It wasn't until the eighth inning that the next runs came across the plate, as Hilbert scored on a wild pitch and back-to-back RBI base knocks to increase its lead to six runs.

The Raiders, in search of a late comeback, scored just one run in the top of the ninth.

Tejada went 1-for-4 at the plate with an RBI and two runs scored. Reis was 1-for-3 on the evening with two runs batted in.

Volino went four innings, allowing just three hits, one walk, and one earned run while striking out three batters faced in his first collegiate start. In 0.2 innings, right-handed reliever Ty Baker struck out a pair of Hawks while allowing just one hit.

The Raiders will have a quick turnaround as they continue their Spring Break trip. The first pitch is scheduled for Friday, March 7, at 10:00 a.m. for a non-conference clash against Eastern. The game will be played at Socastee High School.