Softball: Raiders open up 2018 season in Florida

(Fort Myers, Fla.) The Rivier University Softball team opened the 2018 season this morning in beautiful southwest Florida as they fell to Kenyon College in the opener before dropping a tough one-run decision to Clark University.

Game One: Kenyon College 8, Rivier University 0 (Final)

The season-opener ended in a 8-0 defeat this morning to Kenyon College in a shortened five inning affair. Rivier managed just two hits in their first game action of the year.

Sophomore Tayla LeGrand (Tewksbury, Mass.) earned the Raiders' first hit of the 2018 campaign with a loud single in the third inning as she finished the game going 1-for-2. Junior Kerri Hegarty (Tewksbury, Mass.) was the other Raider to reach base via a single as she finished 1-for-2. Freshman Kellie Kennedy (Hudson, N.H.) received the start inside the circle and allowed eight runs (seven earned) on twelve hits while striking out one.

Kenyon's Amanda Coyle tossed a complete game with five innings of shutout softball while allowing just two hits and striking out three. Britny Patterson went 3-for-3 with two RBI at the plate for Kenyon in the win.

Game Two: Clark University 7, Rivier University 6 (Final/8-innings)

In a battle of a pair of New England schools, the Raiders fell to Clark University in extra innings 7-6. Rivier forced the extra frame by plating two runs in the bottom of the seventh before surrendering the eventual winning run in the top of the 8th.

The Raiders outhit the Cougars, 10-7 in the contest highlighted by a 2-for-4 afternoon from junior Jess Silva (Tewksbury, Mass.). LeGrand and junior Mikayla Ramsdell (Salem, N.H.) also collected two hits apiece and both freshman Julia Dailey (Dracut, Mass.) and Kaite Welch (Wilmington, Mass.) each recorded their first career hit in the loss.

Sophomore Taylor Rowsell (Chelmsford, Mass.) pitched the first four innings for the Raiders allowing three runs on four hits while striking out four. Kennedy came in relief and suffered the loss as she spun the final four frames surrendering just one earned run (four total) on two hits.

Clark's Brenna Foley coughed up a save opportunity but was credited with the win and Sami West picked up the save with a scoreless eighth. Taylor Erickson tossed the first six innings for Clark as she gave up four runs on eight hits and struck out seven. Leah Bodin went 2-for-3 with two RBI and Francesca Cocca added two hits of her own in the win.
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Rivier will be back on the field tomorrow morning as they get set to play Drew University and Albion College over at the CenturyLink Sports Complex. Game time against Drew is scheduled for 9am.