Softball: Raiders finish Spring Trip with triple-header

Story written and posted by Anthony Perry, Rivier University Sports Information Director

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – After rain washed away a pair of games yesterday, the Rivier University Softball team wrapped up their spring trip with a triple-header in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The Raiders dropped all three contests on the evening however they were able to push a tough National Association for Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) schools to the brink. Rivier travels home with a 1-8 overall record and will return to action on Thursday evening with a road double-header at Massachusetts Maritime Academy.

Game One: Muhlenberg College 3, Rivier University 0 (Final)

Junior Kellie Kennedy (Hudson, N.H.) tossed a complete game allowing zero earned runs however the Raiders fell in the opener to Muhlenberg, 3-0.

The right-hander surrendered just three hits over her six innings of work while walking two and striking out six. Kennedy falls to 1-3 on the season inside the circle.

Offensively the Raiders mustered four hits, led by freshman Brenna Welch (Rindge, N.H.) who finished the opener going 2-for-3. Freshman Nicole Verrette (Haverhill, Mass.) and sophomore Katerina St. Angelo (Johnston, R.I.) recorded the other two hits for Rivier.

Muhlenberg scored once in the first inning and added two more in the sixth to secure the 3-0 victory. Sarah Karmazyn, Elise Enslin and Cora Bridgers were the lone Mules to register base hits in the contest. Sophie Chong pitched the complete game shutout as she struck out seven over her seven innings of work while giving up the four hits.

Game Two: Shawnee State University (NAIA) 11, Rivier University 3 (Final – 5 inn.)

In the day's second contest, the Raiders surrendered nine unearned runs in the opening frame as they fell to Shawnee State, 11-3 in a mercy-rule shortened five inning game.

A pair of errors doomed the start for Rivier sophomore pitcher Sydney Greeno (Shirley, Mass.). The right-hander was credited with the loss as she allowed nine runs (all unearned) on seven hits while only walking one. Verrette came on in relief and was able to settle the Shawnee State bats with 2.1 innings of one-hit work. Kennedy then tossed the final frame and allowed two runs (both earned) on two hits while striking out two.

At the plate, the Raiders offensive notched nine hits in the game. Sophomore Emma Rousseau (Litchfield, N.H.) went a perfect 3-for-3 with a RBI and classmate Hunter Greenleaf (Scarborough, Maine) added a 2-for-3 performance. St. Angelo knocked in a pair of RBI with her 1-for-3 showing while Welch, senior Kasey Smith (Hopkinton, N.H.) and junior Morgan Pratt (Pelham, N.H.) all recorded one hit each in the loss.

Shawnee State saw Haley Rawlins go 3-for-3 with a HR and four RBI to lead the attack and Ashtyn Saunders chipped in with a pair of base hits from the leadoff spot. Aubrey Willett earned the win with five innings of work, surrendering three runs (all earned) on nine hits and striking out three. She did not walk a batter in the outing.

Game Three: Midway University (NAIA) 13, Rivier University 9 (Final – 8inn.)

The Raiders rallied for four runs in the bottom of the fifth and two more in the bottom of the seventh to force extras however Midway was able to plate five runs in the eight to defeat Rivier, 13-9. It was a classic back-and-forth game in which the two teams battled until the final out, which came with the bases-loaded in the home half of the eighth inning with a chance to tie.

Rivier pounded out 12 hits in the finale guided by the efforts of both Rousseau and Verrette. Each knocked in two RBI on their two-hit games and Pratt added her own 2-for-4 showing in the thrilling loss. Smith set the table from the leadoff spot with a 2-for-5, two runs scored night and freshman Alyssa Gerardi (Manchester, N.H.) scored three runs for the Raiders. Greenleaf also came up big with a clutch two-RBI base hit and finished 1-for-3 coming off the bench.

Inside the circle, Verrette pitched the first five frames allowing six runs (four earned) on ten hits while striking out four. Kennedy was saddled with the loss as she allowed seven runs (six earned) on eight hits over her three innings of work.

Midway was paced by three-hit games from Carson Flynn, Baylee Woods and Sarah Jo Calhoun. Flynn also added three RBI while Calhoun knocked in two and Woods finished with one RBI and two runs scored. Madison Ludwig also collected two RBI in the win for Midway. Calhoun was the winning pitcher as she scattered twelve hits over the eight innings while allowing nine runs (four earned) and striking out six. She also walked seven batters in the contest.