Raiders drop GNAC Double-Header to Emerson

(Nashua, NH) The Rivier University Softball team lost both ends of the regular season ending Great Northeast Athletic Conference double-header with Emerson College this evening in front of about 75 people at Raider Diamond. The loss cements the Raiders with the #7 seed and will travel to Emerson – who finished 2013 in second place with a 19-5 GNAC record – for the Quarterfinal game on Wednesday afternoon in Boston.

Game One: Emerson College 7, Rivier University 0 (Final)

The Lions scored four runs in the top of the seventh as they took the opening game, 7-0 from the Raiders.

Junior Hillary Tarr (North Easton, MA) pitched well up until the four run seventh. She allowed the Lion offense to plate single runs in the third, fifth and sixth. Tarr finished the game allowing seven runs (six earned) on eight hits while striking out two.

Junior Nicole Peacock (Warwick, RI) went 1-for-2 in the game and freshman Lia Bobek (Hollis, NH) was a perfect 1-for-1. Classmate Kathryn Mostone (Pelham, NH) collected the third and final Raider hit in her 1-for-3 performance.

Emerson was led in the circle by Alicia Daniels. Daniels tossed seven shutout innings allowing just the three hits while retiring five hitters by way of the K. Shannon Torosain finished a triple short of the cycle as she was a perfect 4-for-4 with 4 RBI and a solo HR. Bianca Buono added two RBI in her 2-for-3 showing and Courtney Fee finished 1-for-3 with a run scored.

Game Two: Emerson College 5, Rivier University 2 (Final)

Senior Marissa Mercier (North Smithfield, RI) blasted her eighth home run of the season in the fourth inning to give the Raiders a 2-1 lead but Emerson was able to capitalize on a few Rivier miscues and win the nightcap, 5-2.

Rivier first got on the board in the third inning when freshman Allyson Nolan (Willington, CT) scored on a passed ball that tied the game at one before Mercier untied it with a solo shot in the fourth.

However, with runners on first and second and one out – the Raiders made a few fielding mistakes that allowed the Lions to plate four runs in the sixth to seal the game.

Freshman Taylor Miller (Haverhill, MA) tossed a brilliant game for Rivier. She allowed the Lions just two earned runs on seven hits and struck out three. Nolan collected two hits (2-for-3) and Mercier's homer accounted for all of the Rivier offense.

Emerson got another solid outing from inside the circle as Alexandra Magistro pitched a complete game, striking out five and yielding just one earned run. Both Torosain and Buono added two more RBI while Brittany Rockford had a multi-hit game for the Lions (2-for-3).

End of the Regular Season Notes

With the conclusion of this evening's contests, the Raiders finish the 2013 season with a 15-19 overall record and 11-13 in GNAC competition. Peacock hit an outstanding .505 in 34 games played while recording a .752 slugging percentage and swiping 35 bases. She collected 53 hits and six home runs while driving in 18 RBI on the season. Mercier finishes her senior season with a .365 average and a team leading 8 homers and 27 RBI. Tarr won eight of her 15 starts while recording a 4.88 ERA and 48 strikeouts. Miller finished her rookie campaign with a 4.78 ERA and a 5-11 record.