Softball: Raiders Swat the Hornets in Home Season Openers, 14-0 & 13-1.

Nashua, N.H. - The Rivier University softball starts their season off with two wins agains the Hornets of Northern Vermont University in non-conference action. 

The Basics

Score: Rivier University 14, Northern Vermont University-Lyndon 0 (Game One)
Score: Rivier University 13, Northern Vermont University-Lyndon 1 (Game Two)

How It Happened

Game One

The Raiders opened the scoring in the bottom of the third after Katie welch scored an unearned run after an error at first base. The Raiders took over in the fourth with a merciless dislplay of offensive dominance.  

By the end of the first contest all of the Raiders starters crossed home plate at least once. Junior Katerina St. Angelo (Johnston, R.I.), sophomore Brenna Welch (Rindge, N.H.), junior Emma Roussea (Litchfield, N.H.) junior Sara Mainville (Lowell, Mass.) and senior Katie Welch (Wilmington, N.H.) all earned two runs a piece while senior Kasey Smith (Hopkinton, N.H.) and freshman Amanda Atkinson (Mason, N.H.) tallied 2 RBI's a piece.

Game Two

The visitors grabbed and early 1-0 advantage in the first inning after sophomore Saleena Porter (St. Johnsbury, VT) singled to centerfield sending junior Grace Ducker (Lyndonville, VT) to second and freshman Victoria Valentine (E. Burke, VT) tallied the first and last run for the Hornets.

The Raiders responded in the bottom of the second after junior Emma Rousseau (Litchfield, N.H.) scored off a junior Nicole Capra (Windham, N.H.) single to even the score, 1-1.  It was sophomore Alyssa Gerardi (Manchester, N.H.) that scored the second run after freshman Alicia McKenna (Litchfield, N.H.) pegged another single. Olivia Boucher cranked a three-run homerun in the bottom of the third inning as the Raiders went on uncontested through the remainder of the day.  The two wins make a great story for the Raiders as they're the first, in the newly built Raider Diamond.

Inside the Numbers

• Mainville went 2-for-3 with 2 RBI's and 2 runs in game one.
• Olivia Boucher hit a homerun in the fourth inning and earned a total of 3 RBI's on the day.
• Sophomore pitcher Nicole Verrette (Haverhill, Mass.) (W, 1-0) tallied 6 strikeouts in 5 innings allowing only 4 hits in game one.
• Junior pitcher Sydney Greeno (Shirley, Mass.) handled game two earning 7 K's and gave up 5 hits in the 5 innings.  
• St. Angelo, Welch and Rousseau each earned a stolen base.

UP NEXT

The Raiders (2-0) will travel down to Franklin, Massachusetts to face off against the Bull Dogs of Dean College in their season opener on April 3. First pitch will cross the plate at 1PM.

The game will be broadcasted live at https://boxcast.tv/view/softball-vs-rivier-908421