Rivier Wins Both Ends of Intercity Doubleheader

Nashua, NH – In a battle of intercity rivals, Rivier College came out on top on both ends of a softball double header tonight against Daniel Webster College. Freshman outfielder Nicole Peacock (Warwick, RI) had a big night, going 6 for 7 at the plate with 2 doubles and 2 triples to lead the Raiders with 6 RBIs as the home team came from behind in game one to pull out a victory 7-6 and made a statement in game two by exploding for 11 runs to win the nightcap 11-1.

In game one Daniel Webster took full advantage of starting pitcher Nadjeska Reynolds (Hamden, CT) who struggled with her control. Reynolds walked three out of the first four batters and then gave up a double to Eagles shortstop Courtney Brennan (Beverly, MA) and the score was quickly 3-0. Theresa Clementina DiSantis (Hinsdale, MA) then stepped up and ripped a single to drive in another run to make it 4-0 and that's when the wheels really fell off for Reynolds. The sophomore threw two straight wild pitches to advance the runners on the bases and allow one run to score and after a strikeout, the first out of the inning, she threw another wild pitch to allow the sixth run of the inning. Head Coach Dave Morissette had seen enough and made the pitching change, closing the book on Reynolds after 1/3 of an inning allowing 6 runs, 5 earned, on two hits, 3 walks and 3 wild pitches. Freshman Hillary Tarr (North Easton, MA) came in to try to stop the bleeding and was able to strike out the first two batters she faced to get the Raiders out of the inning down 6-0.

After holding the Raiders scoreless in the bottom of the inning the Eagles tried to add to their lead in the second by leading off with a single by Amy Waller (Berlin, MA) then a walk to Amanda Varricchio (Middletown, CT) and a single by Lauren Chesnulevich (Hudson, NH) to load the bases with no outs. The Raiders were able to clamp down on defense though and got a ground ball to Catherine Roy (Dracut MA) who was able to cut down the runner at the plate for the first out of the inning. The very next batter hit a ground ball to the other side of the field, but second baseman Karen Waterman (Rutland, VT) did the same by throwing the runner out at the plate for the second out. Tarr was able to pick up her third strikeout to get out number three and the Raiders escaped unscathed in the inning.

Tarr allowed just three scattered hits over the next five innings to hold the Eagles to the six runs they scored in the first inning, but the Raiders were far from finished at the plate. Rivier was kept in check for four straight innings, getting just four base runners and stranding three of those while the fourth was caught stealing. The fifth inning was when things started to turn around for the Raiders offense when a one out walk followed by a two out single and a stolen base left runners at second and third for Peacock who drilled a double and drove in the Raiders first two runs. That momentum carried over into the bottom of the sixth and a leadoff walk to Amanda Ryan (W. Bridgewater, MA) was followed up by a single by Marissa Mercier (N. Smithfield, RI) to get two base runners on. After a pop up to the shortstop, Waterman drove a double to deep center field to drive in one run and a single by Amanda Thornton (Hanover, MA) drove in two more to make the score 6-5 in favor of the Eagles, but Rivier wasn't done yet. With two outs following a ground out, Myranda Knight (Anson, ME) hit a single to score Thornton, who had advanced to third on a stolen base and a pass ball, to tie the game and up stepped Peacock. Peacock drove the ball down the right field line and hustled around the bases for a triple that scored Knight and gave the Raiders a 7-6 lead heading into the seventh inning.

Tarr struck out the first batter in the seventh, then induced a pop up to the shortstop for out number two. The Eagles tried to rally for a comeback, knocking two straight singles by Melissa Kelly (Hill, NH) and Brennan, but a fly ball to Peacock in center field ended the inning and gave Rivier the dramatic victory.

Daniel Webster starting pitcher Amanda Wilson (Merrimack, NH) took the loss going all 6 innings while allowing 7 runs on 10 hits with 3 walks and 1 strikeout. Tarr picked up the win for the Raiders going 6.2 innings, allowing 0 runs on just 5 hits with 1 walk while striking out 7 DWC batters.

In the nightcap, Rivier wasted little time in establishing their offensive presence. After a scoreless first inning the Raiders bats came alive in the bottom of the second as all nine hitters came to the plate and three walks and four singles led to three runs for Rivier who grabbed a 3-0 lead. Rivier again batted through the order in the bottom of the third, picking up four more runs on two walks, two singles, a double and a triple to give the home team a 7-0 lead.

Daniel Webster got a run back in the top of the fourth as two straight singles drove in Kelly who had been walked earlier in the inning, but a weak infield pop up to first and a line drive to the Roy at shortstop halted any chance for Daniel Webster to mount a comeback. In the bottom half of the inning the Raiders sent all nine batters to the plate for the third straight inning. Waterman started the inning with a single followed by back to back a walks to Thornton and Britnii Dyer (Douglas, MA). Knight reached on a fielder's choice that cut down Waterman at home plate but left the bases loaded for the dangerous Peacock, who once again drove a ball down the right field line for a triple to clear the bases. Peacock would score on a single by Roy to make the score 11-1 before the Eagles could get the final two outs of the inning.

With the Raiders ahead by ten runs, pitcher Lauren Beatty (Sherman, CT) needed just three outs to secure the win. She got the first one on a strikeout and the next two on infield pop ups to end the game. Beatty picked up the win on the mound going 5 innings, giving up 1 run on 4 hits while walking 2 and striking out 4. Chesnulevich pitched game two for the Eagles and gave up all 11 runs in 4 innings pitched. The lefty gave up 12 hits and walked 9 batters with just 1 strikeout on the night.

Rivier will travel to St. Joseph's College of Maine for a GNAC double header on Saturday, April 9th at 1:00 PM while Daniel Webster will host Elms College in a NECC double header on Sunday, April 10th starting at 12:00 PM.