Softball Splits with Saint Joseph (Conn.)

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – The Rivier softball team dropped game one, 5-3, before taking game two, 8-3, in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) split against Saint Joseph (Conn.) on Sunday afternoon at the USJ Softball Field.

The Raiders are now 10-12 (3-3 GNAC) while the Blue Jays are 10-16 (2-4 GNAC).

Rivier is scheduled to pause conference play with a home doubleheader against Lesley on Thursday, April 18 beginning at 5:00 p.m. at Raider Diamond.

Saint Joseph (Conn.) 5, Rivier 3

Rivier took a 1-0 lead when Avry Nelson knocked in a run on a sacrifice fly to center. The Blue Jays then put together a two-run bottom half to make it 2-1 in favor of the hosts.

In the top of the sixth, a Kayla Miles RBI single and a USJ error allowed the Raiders to score twice and retake the lead, 3-2. The Blue Jays responded with three runs in the bottom half to go up 5-3, with the eventual game-winning two-RBI double coming off the bat of Alexis Volinsky.

Miles went 2-for-3 with an RBI and run scored in the setback.

Rivier 8, Saint Joseph (Conn.) 3

After USJ tied things up at 2-2 on a walk with the bases loaded, Rivier outscored the Blue Jays 6-1 over the final three innings to take the victory.

After Hayley Rapaglia gave the Raiders the lead in the fifth, a four-run top of the sixth helped Riv pull away.

Rapaglia and Christina Panagiotopoulos each went 3-for-4 with three RBI in the victory.

Courtney Marioles earned her fourth win after coming into the game in the fifth inning and pitching three complete innings allowing four hits, one run, and three walks while striking out three Blue Jays.