Tejada Home Run Propels Baseball Past Anna Maria, 5-3

NORTHBOROUGH, Mass. – Senior Luis Tejada hit a two-run home run with two outs in the top of the eighth inning to push the Rivier baseball team past Anna Maria, 5-3, in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) clash on Tuesday afternoon at the New England Baseball Complex.

With the win, the Raiders improved to 6-7 (1-1 GNAC), while the AMCATS dropped to 10-8 (0-3 GNAC). This win marks the program's first over Anna Maria since 2018, snapping a 12- game skid.

Following two scoreless innings to start the game, Rivier got on the board first in the top of the third as a double steal forced an errant throw to third, allowing senior Kyle Hsu to cross the plate, giving Rivier a 1-0 lead. Junior Dylan Aliberti doubled the Raiders' lead with an RBI single, scoring first-year Jayce Martinez on the play.

The Raiders' starting pitcher, senior Nate Bonacorsi, fed off the offensive momentum in the top half of the third, going on to pitch three scoreless innings, striking out five AMCATS and allowing just one hit.

Anna Maria broke through in the bottom of the sixth inning, recording their first run of the contest on an RBI single to left field. The AMCATS tied the game up with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Rivier countered Anna Maria's one run in the seventh inning by scoring three runs in the top of the eighth. Junior Nathan Innerfield launched an RBI ground rule double to right center field, bringing home classmate Owen Medlock to give the Raiders the lead once again. In the following at bat, Tejada sent one over the fence for his first longball of the season to extend Rivier's lead to 5-2.

Junior righty Brendan Ferris, who entered the game in relief with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, retired the AMCATS in order in the bottom of the eighth.

With bases load and two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Ferris jammed the final batter to stop the AMCATS' comeback bid and secure his first win of the campaign.

Innerfield and Medlock led the offensive efforts for Rivier, each going 2-for-4 at the dish.

On the bump, Bonacorsi went six strong, striking out 10 and allowing only one run to begin the game.

The Raiders return to NEBC to take on non-conference opponent Emerson on Thursday, Mar. 27. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.