Rivier Splits Double Header With JWU

Nashua, NH – Rivier College and Johnson & Wales University each took a game in today's Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) softball double header. The Wildcats of Johnson & Wales took the first game 11-5 while the Raiders came through in game two, 3-1. The split moves Rivier to 17-9 overall and 9-7 in GNAC play while the Wildcats get to 14-17 overall and 9-9 in the GNAC.

JWU showed a lot of offense in game one, knocking starting pitcher Nadjeska Reynolds around for 11 hits. Reynolds gave up 8 earned runs, 9 overall, in 4.1 innings with 3 strikeouts. Hillary Tarr came in to finish the game and allowed just two unearned runs in the final 2.2 innings.

The Wildcats picked up two runs in the first inning on a pair of singles from Ellis Kim and Heather Imperatore and a double off the bat of Taylor Cwalinski. The Raiders got one run back in the bottom half of the inning with a double from leadoff hitter Nicole Peacock who was then driven home on a sacrifice fly to center field from Amanda Ryan.

The Raiders jumped ahead 5-2 in the bottom of the second, scoring 4 runs on 5 hits to chase starting pitcher Alyssa Babineau from the game after just 1.2 innings. Cwalinski then stepped to the mound and shut down the Raiders for the rest of the game, allowing just two base runners over the final 5.1 innings, both on walks.

JWU put up a 4 spot of their own in the third inning on 5 hits to go ahead 6-5 and never gave the lead back. The Wildcats added 5 more runs, 3 of which on Rivier errors, to take game one 11-5.

Cwalinski and Tarr, the pitchers that finished game one, both started game two and both were dominant off the start. Tarr allowed just two base runners through the first three innings while Cwalinski allowed 6 runners total through 4 innings, but none scored.

In the top of the fourth, Ellis Kim hit a weak ground ball to third base and beat the throw for a base hit. She then advanced to second on a pass ball and moved to third on a ground out to the pitcher. Kim scored the game's first run on a ground ball to second base to put the Wildcats up 1-0.

In the bottom of the fifth the Raiders capitalized on some JWU miscues and were able to put up three runs to take the lead. Peacock started the rally with a 1 out bloop down the left field line that turned into a double with her speed and she advanced to third on a pass ball. The next batter, Catherine Roy, hit a grounder to the third baseman who faked the throw to first and caught Peacock breaking for home. The throw home got Peacock in a run down, but the catcher, Kaleigh Richardson, threw the ball into the dirt when chasing Peacock back toward third base. Peacock then raced home on the play and great heads up running left Roy standing on third base. A single to right-center by Amanda Ryan scored Roy and a two out double by Amanda Thornton scored Ryan to make the score 3-1 in favor of the home team after 5 full innings.

Johnson & Wales had some good swings on the ball during the sixth and seventh innings, hitting a couple of line drives straight at the Rivier outfielders for outs, but they couldn't find the gaps and the Raiders took game two 3-1.

Rivier is back on the field on Wednesday for another GNAC double header against Emerson College in Nashua, NH at 6:00 pm. The Wildcats will travel to UMass-Dartmouth on the same day for a non-conference double header starting at 3:30 pm.